Disabled group targets potential employers

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 18

Disabled group targets potential employers

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DFRORAH MCPHERSON

LlUdukah ivicr'nr.KoviN Employment would not be handed on a plate, to people with disabilities, said the Disabled Persons’ Assembly employment officer, Mr Graham Tapper. . Disabled persons should realise they needed to learn more skills to "make themselves marketable,’’ particularly if an accident had meant their previous work was no longer possible, said Mr Tapper. Employers, however, also needed to be aware of the advantages of hiring the disabled and be willing to give them a chance, he said. An awareness week for employers and those with disabilities will be held from October 4 to 10.

It would focus on paid and voluntary employment, said Mr Tapper. Up to 10 per cent of the population was disabled in some way, and up to 70 per cent of the disabled were unemployed, he said. The main barrier for the disabled in general continued to be good access to buildings. But other obstacles in attitudes still needed to be broken in spite of many advances. Employers should be willing to interview disabled applicants on merit and look beyond the wheelchair, he said. An encouraging step was a guide for employing the disabled put out by the New Zealand Employers’ Federation last year, said Mr Tapper. He said, however, he

did not favour a law that forced employers to hire a certain quota of the disabled “just because they are disabled.” Most of the disabled tended to be “good value” loyal employees, because of the lack of work opportunities, he said. They also added a more rounded "dimension” to the working environment. In return, the disabled needed to make the most use of the opportunities and help available to them, as well as being realistic in what they could achieve, Mr Tapper said. During the awareness week, an open day will be held at the Disabled Persons Assembly office at 314 Worcester Street on October 4 and 7, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.