Charity Bicyclist Believes T-Shirts Can Make Hobby Safer

Fashion and Charity Fundraisers Mix Well

Kate Moss T-Shirts and the Topshop


  Del.ico.us
  Google
  Yahoo MyWeb
  Blink
  Digg
  Furl
  Simpy
  Spurl

 
 
 
 
 
 

Finding jobs for Disabled Workers

Sunday 29th of April 2007 12:47:49 AM

In many regions across the United States and in other countries, hiring disabled workers is not a realistic way for businesses to stay in business. The extra time it takes in training, special accommodations, and in workmanship does not appeal to many companies. But in Lamar’s Workshop, in Springfield, Missouri, USA, many disabled people have found jobs over the years through contracts with local companies. T-Shirts shipping, packaging materials, bagging and collating are all jobs that those with certain physical disabilities and mental disabilities such as autism can be very successful at when trained properly.

But the workshop may have to find another place for some of its workers because one of their contracts is relocating. Judd Chestnut, the workshop manager said of one of the employees who is being laid off, “Not coming here would be a punishment for him. He could work somewhere else, but I don't know that anyone would want to teach him. The bottom line is people want to know why they should hire him over someone else they can pay the same amount to and who won't have the same problems."

Community centres like Lamar’s Workshop depend on company contracts, government subsidies, and charity in order to provide wages for workers with disabilities. In return, workers learn a skill, do not need as much government assistance, and help keep economies afloat. Unfortunately, as companies shift work sites, outsource positions, or downsize, many workers are left without jobs.

Relocating disabled workers is not an easy task. Chestnut may have to let some workers go if he cannot place them. He many also have to cut health benefits also. For now, workers have been placed temporarily with another employer boxing and bagging merchandise while Chestnut and others try to find new contracts so everyone can remain employed.

(c)Kovacs Laszlo, www.sxc.hu