[Ohio-Talk] Fwd: Article: Hiring a person with a disability can make 'high morale contagious'

[Carolyn Peters]

Greetings everyone an article of interest, please read at your leisure. Cheerfully, Carolyn Peters

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Mary.Turocy at civ.ohio.gov
Date: December 2, 2020 at 10:30:01 AM EST
To: dr.carolyn.peters at gmail.com
Subject: Article: Hiring a person with a disability can make 'high morale contagious'


Hiring a person with a disability can make 'high morale contagious'
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Goodwill Easterseals offers over 40 programs in the community including job training and certification courses.
GOODWILL EASTERSEALS

 Hannah Poturalski  – Managing Editor, Dayton Business Journal
a day ago
There are many different ways to diversify a company's workforce.

And if the fit is right, hiring a person with a disability can be a rewarding endeavor for a company and its workers.

"They don’t often miss work and they are very committed to it," said Teri Shirk, vice president of program services for Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley. "They are darn good employees and they come every day. Just be open to the idea and see them as the whole person and not that barrier."

The nonprofit social services organization works with companies all across the Dayton region to find jobs for those with disabilities, including Meijer Distribution Center, Tenneco, University of Dayton, Dayton Children's Hospital, Kroger and Walmart.

The agency places 1,000 people in jobs each year.

She said during the pandemic, many companies have opted for virtual hiring fairs with Goodwill. The prospective candidates are safely hosted at Goodwill and move through the hiring fair by meeting with hiring managers via video connection at computer stations.

And Goodwill is doing its part, too, in hiring people with disabilities. That can include physical, mental health and developmental disabilities.

"Almost half of the people we hire are those with disabilities," said Matt Arntz, vice president of retail for Goodwill.

Goodwill also provides transportation services for those with disabilities. He said that can be one of the several barriers — along with a lack of job history — that prevent those with disabilities from earning or holding down jobs.

"Our folks have to strive so hard to find employment sometimes, especially those visually impaired," Shirk said. "Once (they) get in, they have a great work ethic and high morale and that is contagious."

Other support services are offered through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Ultimately, Arntz said it means more help to integrate, and retain, those with disabilities into competitive jobs.

Goodwill Easter Seals offers the community over 40 programs, including workforce development opportunities. The nonprofit offers certification classes in information technology, digital skills, janitorial, and ServSafe Dining, among others.

Shirk said one example that comes to mind is a local chef that was laid off during the pandemic and has earned a new job as an IT specialist after completing the certification classes through Goodwill.

"We work with people on making sure they think about what they want to do and what their skills are," Shirk said. "We help to make a plan. ... We do a lot of soft skills like managing a budget, how to dress and how respond to an employer when upset."