XN000022-1984-04-11 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1984

MORE JOB CHANCES URGED FOR DISABLED

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THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAVE THE JOINT RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING THE FULLEST POSSIBLE INTEGRATION OF THE DISABLED INTO EMPLOYMENT.

HEAD OF THE REHABILITATION DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH, MR MARTIN LEWIS, SAID THIS TODAY AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF THE PEAK,

AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN REHABILITATION, HE APPEALED TO ALL EMPLOYERS TO DO AWAY WITH THEIR PREJUDICE AGAINST THE DISABLED.

MR LEWIS ASKED THEM TO CONSCIOUSLY ADOPT A POLICY OF EMPLOYING AS MANY DISABLED PERSONS AS POSSIBLE AND TO FURTHER PROMOTE THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE DISABLED TO OTHER EMPLOYERS AND ORGANISATIONS.

+ HONG KONG AS A TERRITORY CANNOT YET CLAIM TO BE ONE OF THE BEST EMPLOYERS OF THE DISABLED IN THE WORLD.

+TRUE, THERE ARE MANY FIRMS AND ORGANISATIONS THAT DO MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE IT IS NORMAL, RATHER THAN EXCEPTIONAL, TO EMPLOY A DISABLED PERSON, HE SAID.

HIGHLIGHTING THE STRENGTHS OF THE HANDICAPPED IN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, MR LEWIS SAID, FOR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED, PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE RELATIVELY MOBILE, OR IN PLACES WHERE THERE IS SUITABLE ACCESS, THEY CAN WORK IN CERTAIN JOBS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER PERSONS.

+ANY SITTING JOB CAN OBVIOUSLY BE UNDERTAKEN BY A PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR, AND THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF THOSE, IN BOTH OFFICES AND FACTORIES.+

ON JOBS FOR THE BLIND, MR LEWIS POINTED OUT THAT ONCE THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR FACTORY TASKS, THEY COULD OUT-PRODUCE THOSE WITH NORMAL EYE-SIGHT.

+A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER OR FACTORY BOSS COULD WELL EXAMINE SOME OF HIS JOBS, AND SEE WHICH PARTS A BLIND PERSON COULD DO. HE MIGHT BE SURPRISED, PARTICULARLY IF HE IS IN THE ASSEMBLY OR PACKING BUSINESS, + HE SAID.

+DEAF PEOPLE ALSO MAKE GOOD WORKERS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EASILY DISTRACTED FROM THEIR WORK, SO THEIR CONCENTRATION IS BETTER AND THEY DO NOT MIND WORKING IN A NOISY ENVIRONMENT.

/+EMPLOYERS OR