mentally handicaped employment

[tdog 0]

Our company is considering looking to mentally handicapped people to serve some of our customer's needs in the manual labor workplace.

We are wondering if this would be a good resource (win/win) for the community and for our customers.

If you, or any of your friends, have information about different types of charities, churches, community groups, help centers that specialize in work placement for these individuals, I would love to chat.

My first initial question is basically "what type of handicaps are good matches for our needs." I am hoping some councilor or professional in the field of handicaps can train me on what is available out there. Clearly some handicaps "fit" some workplace needs better than others (grocery store bagger vs dog walker, they have different skillsets and immediate supervision for an example)

If you work with anyone that is handicapped and has done a real good job, or has been a negative addition to the team, please PM me or post your experiences too.

[skymama 37]

I just saw a story on the news about this just last week. Apparently the CEO of Walgreens has implimented a similiar program and has an entire distribution center run by people with different challenges. It was a very inspiring and positive piece. I usually watch ABC news, so maybe you can find it on their site or on the Walgreens site.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Thanatos340 1]

Our DZ does this too. We call them "Packers".

[marks 0]

Quote

Our DZ does this too. We call them "Packers".

[futuredivot 0]

When i was still in manufacturing, I found an organization that I contracted to do some sorting for us. The experience that I had during traing was amazingly rewarding. Be prepared to over engineer the task-set jobs up with go-no go gages or templates. Avoid anything that takes a judgement call. Break the task in to small steps that product can be moved through one operation completely before starting the next. I think it was a great deal for us and for the organization.

You are only as strong as the prey you devour

[NWFlyer 2]

I was a literacy volunteer about 15 years ago with a mentally disabled woman in her 40s. She had lived with her father until his death and at that time had moved in with her sister and sister's family. Her sister's family had begun to look for things to help her improve her confidence and independence, and among them was the literacy program and a job program.

She worked 4 hour shifts a few days a week at a Pizza Hut. She was an active part of the team, and I think feeling part of the team was probably the most rewarding part of it for her, but her job didn't involve a lot directly customer-facing work (I think she helped clean tables, but she wasn't taking orders or serving food). She got the job through a social service agency, I believe, and they worked with the restaurant to match up skill sets to job needs.

From my perspective as her tutor, I could see a direct relationship between her job and her literacy skills. It was like it all worked together - everything was this virtuous cycle and she gained confidence and independence in everything in her life.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[Jewels 0]

You might contact Developmental Pathways here in Denver. I understand that part of their function is to place people with a variety of developmental disabilities in suitable positions. http://www.developmentalpathways.org/fssp_employment.htm

TPM Sister #102

[ACMESkydiver 0]

My contacts are local to Seattle...


But it's a great thing your company is doing.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[Armour666 0]

Quote

Our DZ does this too. We call them "Packers".

He said mentaly challenged not hygienically challrnged


That sounds like a great thing being done giving those who are very capable just in different forms and willing to work the opportunity to prove and build their sklls

SO this one time at band camp.....

"Of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most."

[headoverheels 334]

There's a woman who works in my neighborhood Long's Drugs who is not quite "right." She seems to do an adequate job, and it is good to see that she has one.