XN000022-1978-05-23 — Page 2

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1978

EMPLOYERS URGED TO HIRE MORE DISABLED PERSONS

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A SENIOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFICER TODAY APPEALED TO EMPLOYERS TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN HIRING DISABLED PERSONS IN ORDER TO HELP INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY,

MRS. ROSE GOODSTADT, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT'S REHABILITATION DIVISION, SAID THAT WHILE EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS FOR THE DISABLED HAD IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY OVER THE PAST YEARS, MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE.

ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF LION ROCK, MRS. GOODSTADT SAID EXPERIENCE SHOWED IT WOULD BE WRONG TO REGARD HIRING THE DISABLED AS CHARITY EFFORTS WHICH INEVITABLY ENTAILED LOSS.

IN FACT, MOST DISABLED PERSONS HAVE MORE ABILITIES THAN DISABILITIES AND TO EMPLOY THEM CAN BE MOST REWARDING, SHE STRESSED.

SHE CALLED ON EMPLOYERS TO GIVE THE DISABLED A CHANCE BY DISCARDING ANY PREJUDICE OR DOUBTS THEY MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE IR ADAPTABILITY TO WORK, OR ANY WORRY THAT HIRING THEM MIGHT GIVE RISE TO MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS.

+1 AM QUITE SURE THAT IF GIVEN A FAIR COMPETITION ON THE BASIS OF SKILLS, MANY DISABLED PERSONS WHO HAVE RECEIVED ADEQUATE TRAINING STAND A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF BEING RECRUITED, SHE SAID.

MRS. GOODSTADT SAID THE DISABLED SHOULD BE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE LIFE OF A NORMAL PERSON, AND THERE WERE ADVANTAGES IN TAKING IN THE DISABLED AS WORKERS.

ON THE ONE HAND, SHE EXPLAINED, THEIR MOBILITY IS RELATIVELY LOW AS THEY TEND TO BE MORE LOYAL TO THEIR EMPLOYERS AND THEY CAN GET ON WELL WITH THEIR FELLOW WORKERS.

+ON THE OTHER HAND, TO HAVE THEM ON THE STAFF WOULD SHOW THAT THE EMPLOYER IS A PUBLIC-SPIRITED PERSON AND THIS WOULD COMMAND RESPECT AND HELP PROMOTE A SENSE OF LOYALTY AND GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP, SHE ADDED.

SHE SAID MANY HAD COME TO REALISE THAT THE DEAF AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED WERE ABLE TO DO A WIDE RANGE OF JOBS ALTHOUGH SOME STILL HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE ABILITY OF THE BLIND, THE MENTALLY RETARDED AND THE EX-MENTAL PATIENT.

+IN FACT, IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, ALL DISABLED PERSONS CAN VERY WELL FIT INTO A SUITABLE JOB. FOR INSTANCE, THE BLIND CAN BE A GOOD TELEPHONE OPERATOR, A TYPIST OR A METAL ASSEMBLING WORKER WHILE THE MENTALLY RETARDED CAN BE GOOD ENOUGH AT PLASTIC ASSEMBLING AND PACKAGING WORK.+

/ADMITTEDLY,