2005 Journalism Contest
2005 South Carolina Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities Journalism Contest winning essay.
“You’re Hired! Success Knows No Limitations!”
by Sallie Caroline McKenzie
Irmo High School, Columbia, SC
The first act produces laughter. The fourth one brings smiles. This act, however, produces tears. A slightly built, blond-haired boy of 15 steps up to the microphone. As the music starts, he begins to sing, “Open the eyes of my heart. . .” The crowd is deeply touched. He wants the eyes of his heart to be opened because his own eyes are shut. Lucas is blind. Nevertheless, the crowd does not need to shed a tear for this young man! As a participant in the talent show at the South Carolina Commission for the Blind’s Summer Teen Program, this vivacious teen shows a full audience what he is capable of—dreaming big and thinking of his true abilities, not disabilities. All of the performers, in spite of their visual or multiple disabilities, have the same interests, hopes, dreams, and plans for the future as any other teenager. The question is, however, when the time comes for these promising teenagers to enter the work force, will they really be able to hear the words, “You’re hired!”?
In the United States today, only 52.4% of those with some kind of work disability are actually employed in the labor force compared to 82.1 % of those without a disability.
Not only are those with disabilities less likely to be employed, ones who do work have average earnings that are lower than those of their non-disabled counterparts (Meeting. . . ).
Employment brings independence, self-esteem, and more productive lives but “ . . . is perhaps the single most critical issue for people with disabilities (United. . . ).”
On this bright summer Friday, those facts and statistics do not seem to be bothering Lucas. He is right at home at the microphone. In fact, his career goal is to be a disc jockey at a local radio station and he is already honing the skills he will need. A Charleston station has already graciously provided Lucas the opportunity for some practical experience by letting him try his hand at “spinning a disc” on an actual radio show. This country music fan has all the confidence in the world that one day listeners will be tuning in to his very own radio program.
Agencies are working hard to create opportunities for the goals and aspirations of young people like Lucas to become reality. The South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department operates 24 work training centers around the state and contracts with more than 400 businesses and industries in the placement of people with disabilities in actual jobs. “SCVRD successfully placed 8,956 clients into competitive employment in 2003-2004 (South. . .).” Although there are successes, there are also more hurdles to overcome.
Education of the public is a key ingredient to success. Some employers still need to be convinced that hiring individuals with disabilities is good business. Stereotypical prejudices lead to limited expectations regarding skills, work attendance, and costly accommodations. In reality, workers with disabilities have proven themselves to be cost-effective and productive employees. Hiring them is good business! Not only are tax credits made available to those who hire the disabled in South Carolina, but these employees themselves pay back $2.99 in taxes for every $1 spent on their rehabilitation. With an $11.76 increase in earning for each dollar that vocational rehabilitation programs invest, the taxpayer realizes a net profit of $13,564 for each person placed in a job which translates into an 18.1% rate of return (South. . .)!
Eddie Best, the manager of a Piggly Wiggly, has hired individuals of all ages with various disabilities. He says, “As a manager, it is part of my job to place individuals in the positions for which they are best suited; when that match is right, I no longer even think of them as having a disability. I find that those with limitations are often stronger in other ways—such as attitude, dependability, and on-task behaviors (Best).”
The talent show is nearing its end but not before these teenagers coerce their counselors to join them in a rousing rendition of “YMCA” in front of the audience. The commonality of having a disability has brought them together, but they are as different as any “village” of individuals might be. Each has his or her own dream for the future. Some of the teenagers who are gleefully raising their arms in the shape of a “Y” are not planning to go into professional careers; others are and will require totally different job opportunities. They do not have to look far to see success stories at every end of the work force spectrum. In the same building where they are performing, there are wonderful role models. Instructors, counselors, and even the commissioner at this state agency have overcome disabilities to be where they are today! Sheila Compton, one of the instructors, advises those with disabilities to always be prepared to put forth a little extra effort to counterbalance the qualifications of those job applicants without disabilities. She says, “I never viewed my blindness as a handicap, just an inconvenience (Compton).”
As the final note is sung and the last step danced, the audience bursts into applause for the individual talents and abilities displayed before them. After emotional good-byes, the teenagers depart for their respective homes armed with optimism for the future. The audience members, likewise, disperse across the state, inspired by the words of Lucas’s song to do their part to open the eyes of the hearts and minds of all South Carolinians so that they can truly “see” abilities rather than disabilities.
(I met Lucas and his friends while volunteering at the Summer Teen Program at the SC Commission for the Blind. I was one of the members of the audience at the talent show who had my eyes opened.)
Bibliography
Best, Eddie. Personal Interview. January 15, 2005.
Cain, Lucas. Personal Interviews. July, 2004, and January 17, 2005.
Compton, Sheila. Personal Interview. January 16, 2005.
Meeting the Needs of Employees with Disabilities. Lexington, Mass.: Resource for Rehabilitation, 1999, p 9.
“South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department Home Page.” January 14, 2005. http://scvrd.net.
“United States Department of Health and Human Services Home Page.” January 14, 2005. http://www.hhs.gov.