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Alisha 04/06/2011 8:19:00 PM
Kathryn, i know this response was from on year ago, but i'm reading what your saying and would like to know what agency you work for. I'm doing research for a new company i've started that markets goods made by the mentally challenged adults, and your comment is one of the most informed i've found for programs and agencies in america? would love to run more questions by you
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Kathryn J.S. Cook 09/29/2009 10:13:00 AM
P.S. Some of my best workers do not speak. Just imagine how little distraction there is in the work place if people are not excessively talking or off task. Just think how little gossip there is in the work place. Just think how productive the business would be if the staff did not spend the first 30 minutes of their Monday at the water cooler telling their weekend antics. You don't have to speak to stock shelves. You don't have to speak to mow lawns. You don't have to speak to operate pressure washers. You don't have to speak to clean a meat room in a grocery store. You don't have to speak to maintain a highway rest stop. You don't have to speak to maintain a park. You don't have to speak to roll silverware in a restaurant. You don't have to speak to detail vehicles at a car lot. You don't have to speak to file papers in an office..... etc. etc. etc..
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Kathryn J.S. Cook 09/29/2009 10:03:00 AM
The article is a nice start; however, it is way behind the times!! I have been working with people who have disabilities for 28 years. We have incredible work opportunities for them. For those people who think people with disabilities should volunteer, I would like to say could you make a living volunteering? Public benefits are not enough to survive on. We provide meaningful work for meaningful wages. For example: One of our contracts is at a Military Base. The people we serve make prevailing wage, and get medical and dental benefits. People with disabilities deserve the American Dream and nothing short of it. One of my gentlemen owns his own home, works on a military base, and has a second job working for a local city. He says, "now all I need is a wife." And it is true, she would be lucky to have him. He is a terrific provider and a great person. We place people in jobs in the community too. If you come to our County, you may not even know that the person who is serving you has a disability. We have a strong work ethic; therefore we offer employment for people with severe and profound disabilities. Our folks work in local restaurants, retail outlets, for the county, for the State, and for the military. We even offer employment opportunities for people who have a six month cognitive level. They take great pride in collecting their earned income. So, to the person who says let them volunteer and save the jobs for the non-disabled person; I ask, please write me and come see how the people I serve live meaningful lives. We give a hand up, not a hand out. We turn tax users into tax payers. The Rehab 504 Act gives people with disabilites THE RIGHT to live the American Dream. They are fully capable of living the American Dream. And let me tell you, the DuPont Studies demonstrate the workman's compensation rate and risks are far lower than the mainstream population. The attendance rate of an individual with a disability is far higher than the mainstream population. Yes, my job does make me feel good!! But, I do not do it for the pay. If I wanted to be paid and make money, I would find another job. But as you can see by my email name, life is about people and relationships. All kinds of people and relationships. If I can help someone earn a livable wage and get off the system and start paying taxes, then I have done my job well. The individual with the disability has pride in self sufficiency. I live these stories daily and am proud to serve people with disabilites for very little money. Some of the people I serve, make more than my staff. Agencies such as mine serve a major contribution in society. We cost 1/50th to support compared to a state institution. Our agency, a local non profit, contributes back to the community 2.5 times over financially. We have an 11.5 million dollar budget, of which 65% is self generated through the micro businesses we operate. This is how WE as an agency avoid dependency of government funding. Our rates are 65% underfunded. Only 40% of our income is government funding. If you look at the BARC studies, and compare the same rate of return on our industry. 11.5 mllion times 2.5 financial contribution to the community is quite a return on the tax payers. Agencies like mine are investments. To the author of the article, that was very cute. However, if you were to talk to any of the people I serve, they would have found it quite condesending. Come see what real employment agencies do!!
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Kathryn J.S. Cook 09/29/2009 10:03:00 AM
The article is a nice start; however, it is way behind the times!! I have been working with people who have disabilities for 28 years. We have incredible work opportunities for them. For those people who think people with disabilities should volunteer, I would like to say could you make a living volunteering? Public benefits are not enough to survive on. We provide meaningful work for meaningful wages. For example: One of our contracts is at a Military Base. The people we serve make prevailing wage, and get medical and dental benefits. People with disabilities deserve the American Dream and nothing short of it. One of my gentlemen owns his own home, works on a military base, and has a second job working for a local city. He says, "now all I need is a wife." And it is true, she would be lucky to have him. He is a terrific provider and a great person. We place people in jobs in the community too. If you come to our County, you may not even know that the person who is serving you has a disability. We have a strong work ethic; therefore we offer employment for people with severe and profound disabilities. Our folks work in local restaurants, retail outlets, for the county, for the State, and for the military. We even offer employment opportunities for people who have a six month cognitive level. They take great pride in collecting their earned income. So, to the person who says let them volunteer and save the jobs for the non-disabled person; I ask, please write me and come see how the people I serve live meaningful lives. We give a hand up, not a hand out. We turn tax users into tax payers. The Rehab 504 Act gives people with disabilites THE RIGHT to live the American Dream. They are fully capable of living the American Dream. And let me tell you, the DuPont Studies demonstrate the workman's compensation rate and risks are far lower than the mainstream population. The attendance rate of an individual with a disability is far higher than the mainstream population. Yes, my job does make me feel good!! But, I do not do it for the pay. If I wanted to be paid and make money, I would find another job. But as you can see by my email name, life is about people and relationships. All kinds of people and relationships. If I can help someone earn a livable wage and get off the system and start paying taxes, then I have done my job well. The individual with the disability has pride in self sufficiency. I live these stories daily and am proud to serve people with disabilites for very little money. Some of the people I serve, make more than my staff. Agencies such as mine serve a major contribution in society. We cost 1/50th to support compared to a state institution. Our agency, a local non profit, contributes back to the community 2.5 times over financially. We have an 11.5 million dollar budget, of which 65% is self generated through the micro businesses we operate. This is how WE as an agency avoid dependency of government funding. Our rates are 65% underfunded. Only 40% of our income is government funding. If you look at the BARC studies, and compare the same rate of return on our industry. 11.5 mllion times 2.5 financial contribution to the community is quite a return on the tax payers. Agencies like mine are investments. To the author of the article, that was very cute. However, if you were to talk to any of the people I serve, they would have found it quite condesending. Come see what real employment agencies do!!
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Tracey 08/01/2009 1:08:00 AM
What benefit or fulfillment is someone with limited physical and or mental capacities going to have from pointless work? It's ridiculous to have people sorting bolts or spooling wire just so the rest of us can feel like they are contributing to the greater good. Now if the disabled person enjoys handing out carts at Wal-mart, good for them. But to force all disabled people into time-wasting jobs is wrong. Work force training for the severely disabled has become a gravy train of government money for the administrators of these programs. It may give them purpose and the sense that they are helping these poor poor people, but that's all.
The reason the rest of us suckers have jobs is to get money to live our lives the way we want, or to take care of other people. We don't typically work in an office or a field for the enjoyment of it. We do it because we have to, so I guess in that sense we are all in the same boat.
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Amy Harmala 07/30/2009 11:06:00 PM
WITHOLD MY NAME PLEASE: I do not think that your article does a good job educating the public about the importance of supported employment for DD people. Nor does it educate them of the range of skills and abilities that DD people have. Many have the potential for employment. Nor does it give a broader context by providing success stories or statistics of how many DD people are successfully employed. Also I think it is disrespectful of Mr. Keys to detail every mistake he made while learning a new job. DD supported employment services need to be fully funded. DD people deserve better than sheltered workshops at subminimum wage
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CD 07/23/2009 5:59:00 AM
Why does it have to be PAID work? It seems like the same effect could be achieved by volunteering. That would leave a paid spot open for someone else who needs to pay their own way...Q
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Dan Kwok 07/16/2009 9:59:00 AM
I'm a college student from Seattle University with two jobs. My 17 years old sister, Tiffany Kwok, was born with down syndrome. She is slow to understand what people tells her to do, but we can't get her to do anything. For all these years I don't know how my sister will have any future. After reading this article, it gave me some light about how my sister can be helped.
However, she is only 17 years old right now, living in the Island of Saipan. I want to bring her out here in Seattle to see some of the programs that the article talked about, but these programs seem to be for people who are a lot older with disabilities. Does anyone know if there is a program for teens with disabilities? Or does these programs also serve people who are my sister's age?
My email is danky520@yahoo.com
Please let me know if anyone has an answer for my questions, thanks.
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slipping_dre 07/14/2009 7:08:00 AM
But if I got my Nina, then you know I'm straight trippin'
And I'ma continue to put the rap down, put the mack down
And if yo bitches talk shit, I'll have to put the smack down
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on_display 07/14/2009 6:36:00 AM
There is a corporation in "Florida" that projects an image of assisting "challenged" individuals. This corporation is a grocery store by the name of "Publix" it has a policy of pay for praise [the strongest and heartless - without emotion} advance within their system, Having said that, they have a policy of hiring mentally disadvantaged individuals, whom they place on the front line of the store -- grocery bagging clerks.
1.) because there is no representation of these grocery baggers, and they are unable to clarify their thoughts on conditions of employment [can you tell when they suffer ridicule} they have no chance for advancement or a grievance system -- if they could navigate a grievance.
2.) Publix grocery costs/prices are equal to and quite more expensive then comparable union grocery stores out west (Seattle)
3. Publix puts these intellectually disadvantage humans on display in the front of their stores,as a reminder to people that even a retard could do that job -- for less money and no complaints.
RJC
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Carrie McGrath 07/13/2009 10:19:00 PM
As the parent of a 17 year old son with severe and significant challenges due to cerebral palsy and deaf-blindness, it may seem incomprehensible that I desire, and expect, him to have meaningful employment when he is an adult. While this could take more time and creativity that I alone have, I do know that it will happen � because the alternative just isn�t acceptable! Aside from finding worth in having a job, the importance of not being isolated and contributing to a team cannot be overlooked. Everyone, regardless of disability or severity of support needs, should have the right to employment opportunities. I am thankful that our state has implemented this policy because it continues to hold the bar high in its expectations of our community to support and employ people with developmental disabilities AND because it tells me our policymakers believe in and value everyone�s contribution. While I understand the concerns of other parents, it is imperative that we not overlook what occurs for other adults should also occur for our sons and daughters with disabilities.
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Lisa 07/12/2009 7:29:00 PM
Nina,
Thank you so much for writing this inspiring article, it meant so much to me. My brother has autism, and with job coaching and academic accommodations he graduated with his Bachelor's Degree and now works for a major corporation as an accountant. To be successful, he needs some accommodation in his workplace and has disclosed his disability to his supervisors. As a result of his self advocacy and lots of practice communicating his needs-- he is a valued employee, and recently promoted to supervising two (typically developing) new employees!
AtWork!'s site looks fantastic, we are so lucky to have it in Seattle. I hope that the government will systemically create facilitative environments for adults to build job skills w/instruction. Places where adults with disabilities will be able to explore a wide variety of skills/tasks (not just given a few and if they can't do them be deemed incompetent). Empathetic and efficacious supervision is an essential component--someone who can translate the person's interests and skill-set onto a resume and into an appropriate job placement.
As I was reading your article at a coffee shop, in walked a man in his 30's with a name badge on a lanyard around his neck, carrying a copy of the Times. He told me he thought I looked nice sitting at the table in the window, showed me medals from the Special Olympics around his neck, kissed my hand--the display caught the attention of the barista. We talked about the newspaper, then he smiled, said good bye and went on his way. He swept by the newspaper stand and in a graceful motion scooped up day-old copies of the Times. Out the back door, he briskly walked to his next location. I was very happy to meet him and see how enthusiastically and efficiently he worked. The barista said that the man does a good job always. He was shocked when I informed him about your article and the law.
It was an interesting and immediate application of the concepts you wrote about. A capable man with a developmental disability who is skilled at what he does. I think coaching is essential--helpful for that man could be some scripts or specific instruction (DO statements) to enhance professional interaction (although there's nothing wrong with a kiss on the hand, not every woman appreciates unconventional attention!).
The article was wonderful. I hope to see continued emphasis of what people with disabilities can do and refocus the plan to be less polarized. Individualizing, facilitating success--not mandating or outlawing, especially if it negatively impacts the overall quality of life of adults with disabilities and their families. You raised a lot of important and complex questions.
Thank you,
Lisa
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Sonya 07/11/2009 2:43:00 AM
Sherry says, "he's a person who nobody thought would be able to do anything�including our family."I've known Jeff for 20 years - it was only his family who thought he couldn't do anything. The people who worked in his home always knew how smart and capable Jeff is.
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Michael Dare 07/09/2009 10:05:00 PM
Put Robbie on a bicycle connected to an electrical generator with a TV in front of him. He can contribute to society by generating electricity. He'd have the same job as Hoover Dam.
