October is National Disability Employment Month. That’s a cause close to my heart for two reasons:
- When I owned an interior landscape company, I employed individuals with disabilities and found them to be conscientious, hard workers. In a previous post, I wrote about a worker who was profoundly deaf.
- When I had a stroke at the hands of a chiropractor at the age of 45, it wasn’t as easy for individuals with disabilities to find employment. Had I not already owned my own business, I would likely have had a hard time finding a job.
I encourage employers to consider hiring qualified workers who happen to have disabilities. Although you might have to make a few special accommodations, I believe you will find the minor inconveniences worth it.
If you are a worker who has a disability, remember that your abilities are more important than your disabilities. Focus on what you do well. As the song says, “Accentuate the positive; eliminate the negative.”
If you’re neither an employee or a worker with disabilities, I hope you will take advantage of National Disability Employment Awareness Month to learn more.