Community Living Ontario

Rotary at Work and employer champions dispelling myths
Wednesday July 13, 2011 -- Kristian Partington

When the Rotary at Work program started in late 2008, the goal was to help 100 people who have an intellectual disability find meaningful employment within three years. That number was reached in April and since then, 10 more people have entered the workforce.

Joe Dale is a lead co-ordinator with the program and says there’s a snowball effect that goes along with each new hire and each new employer who contributes to dispelling societal myths surrounding the employment of people who have a disability.

These employers become the champions that help the snowball gain momentum, and Dale is seeing continual growth in the program.

“We’re seeing a lot more acceptance in the workplace and a lot of businesses realizing that there’s good business opportunity here,” says Dale.

The business opportunities, he says, fly directly in the face of the many misconceptions that float around the hiring of people who have a disability.

A major myth is that people who have a disability will take more time off work, Dale says, though numerous stories show that’s not the case.

Another huge barrier for many employers is the fear that people who have a disability are more susceptible to injury, which Dale says is not based upon fact at all.

He points to a Dupont study which he says indicates that 97 per cent of employers say people who have a disability work as safe as or safer than people who do not have a disability.

The main premise of the Rotary at Work program is that many of the Rotary Club’s vast network of members are connected to business and in a lot of cases, they hold key decision-making positions.

These are also the business people who understand the importance of giving back to their community, Dale says. They do this in relation to social inclusion by explaining the business case for hiring a person who has a disability.

When a business person dispels these myths for their peers, people listen and become aware of the untapped employee pool seeking meaningful work — people who will be loyal employees if given the opportunity.

Community Living Leaders is looking to shine a spotlight on various businesses across the province that are helping to dispel these myths through their inclusive workplaces. If you have a story to share, please contact kristian(at)axiomnews.ca, or call 800-294-0051, ext. 24.