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February 06, 2007
Separate But Equal?
Our thanks go out to Rita, Mike and Ruth-Ellen, who forwarded this same article to us a couple of days ago: “Recruiters Seek Disabled Students: ‘Untapped’ Pool of Potential Employees Called on to Fill Posts.”
The The Daily Pennsylvanian article points out:
“Last week, PepsiCo -- the parent company of Pepsi, Frito-Lay and Tropicana -- visited the University specifically to recruit students with disabilities, both physical and mental, for employment positions.”
Morris Street Partners, New York, facilitated the recruitment dinner/presentation at the University of Pennsylvania. It “hosts events that are just like standard on-campus recruitment ones but are exclusive – and tailored – to disabled students,” the article says.
The non-profit organization is active on five campuses and is in “contact with 15 others.” It usually works through a campus career services department in organizing and publicizing the disability-only recruitment events, according to the article.
I suppose this is progress, but I wonder if the separation is necessary, particularly when perceptions among employers and co-workers about a variety of disability employment issues seem to be out of synch with what those of us with disabilities know as reality.
For instance, here’s what blogger Cynthia Jones submitted this week on the eSight Networking Forum:
“…I will graduate in June as a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society with a 3.75 GPA. I cannot see; this is an obstacle. (But) it does not stop my or other's abilities to learn or to function.
“Disabled workers are tired of being subjected to less than fair wages for jobs performed. We still have to pay the same cost of living as sighted or non-disabled workers. When sight is a BOQ (Bona fide Occupational Qualification) -- such as driving a car or ambulance, flying air craft, or operating any motorized vehicle, this is understandable. Administering medications in a medical or hospital environment or using technology in lab research such as a microscope are jobs we probably can’t perform.
“Outside of those mentioned, all else should be based on learned skills -- not what one can see or if one can walk or hear.
“Change needs to be addressed and fairness implemented.”
Are disabled students such as Cynthia that different from their non-disabled counterparts that recruitment on college campuses needs to be that segregated?
Would other minorities be enthused about “separate-but-equal” on-campus recruiting?
Isn’t separate recruiting on campus working counter to the drive many of us have to work and thrive in the mainstream?
Are we passing up an opportunity to inform everyone gathered at mainstream recruitment events about how we can carry out the responsibilities of a job with the help of often simple adjustments or accommodations?
This week’s discussion is this:
What do you think about separate-but-equal recruiting efforts on campus for students with disabilities?
Add your comments to this posting
Posted by Jim at February 6, 2007 06:17 PM
Comments
Separate but equal--how equal is that?
Yes, there may be a need for accomodations but separate recruiting--how about recruiters who know understand and can recruit? How about a recruiter who understands vision problems and can work towards a "best fit" for potential employees.
Separate but equal means without any doubt in my mind UNEQUAL. Level the field and tap into the talent that is waiting for their opportunity.
Posted by: barney mayse at February 7, 2007 04:41 PM
I would have thought we learned the lesson that "separate but equal" is never equal...
Posted by: Michael R Burks at February 7, 2007 04:54 PM
I would be interested in knowing how many of those who attended this recruitment dinner at University of Pennsylvania were actually offered employment at Pepsi. That would be the "proof in the pudding". My cynical perception is that this type of separate recruitment, which would include disability job fairs, is mostly "lip-service" and feel-good PR by participating companies. I know of a visually challenged (had some sight) who actually saw a recruiter throw his resume in the trash can, thinking my friend was totally blind. And this is a guy with extraordinay credentials!!
Posted by: David Lingebach at February 7, 2007 05:13 PM
I see it as working the same as "Affirmative Action" and only gives the disabled more of an opportunity to be recoginzed for their abilities and not their disability!
Way to go Pepsico!
Posted by: Charlie Bean at February 8, 2007 04:06 AM
Separate is never equal.
Just why did the Disabled become drawn into the Civil Right's Legal?
he Civil unrest and general madness, of the 60's, and 70's, got the Disabled people excited about demonstrating, for their equal Right's. The Section, 5, of the Rehab. Act, of 73, was enacted.
Section, 5, accomplished several important goals.
1; caused anyone with a disability, to declare their Condition up front, or, failing, to do so left them unprotected, by the Law.
2; allowed the Government, to gain a National, Data Base, which, heretofore, hadn't existed.,
3; allowed all potential Employers, to learn and become prepared, to Legally create reasons and rationale, for not hiring people with disabling conditions.
Anyone filing a Discrimination Case quickly understands, just how complicated, costly and hopeless the whole mess is really.
Many thousands, of cases have been filed, and just how many ever were settled in favor, of the Plaintiff?
The, ADA, also is a very expensive, and mostly, a very bad Joke.
The, National Federation, of the Blind, maintains a myth that "Blindness is only one characteristic, and can, be reduced, to the level, of a mere nuisance". I personally like the,NFB, but after, 52, years, of total Blindness, I argue that is a weak and fallacious argument.
Along with the general Public, many Persons with Disabilities have accomplished in many and varied endeavor's. They achieve individually, because, of their own strength, determination, and most often because they have a Loving, and strong support System.
I submit that Government has played a good role in some respects, but, Government only participated because, Organizations, and Namely, the National Federation, of the Blind, encouraged through setting attainable goal's, persisting through, both Political and Legal means, to gain favorable action at the Federal and State Levels.
CFS
San Antonio, Texas
Posted by: C. Fred Stout at February 9, 2007 05:50 PM
Here's another element of the seperate but equal contradiction. Namely The dreaded SSA they fist say to us diabled folks it's okay to work but then they start to penalize you buy automaticlly strip you of your check under a month. Not to say I don't love their handouts but when then also say to work only 11 months. This is insane we desrve equal financial oppertunities to get out poverty & the dog lease payroll of the SSA. This a form of Civil Rights & Human Rights violations The US Government puts on persons with diabilites. Whwere's Equal Oppertunity in America for us again they lied I've been out of work for over six months and the mainstream workforce doesn't want nothing to do with us.
Posted by: Carlos A Marin Jr at February 11, 2007 05:15 PM
When I think of "separate but equal," I'm reminded of the early days when blacks were not allowed to drink from the same drinking fountains as white people, for example. If that kind of stuff is illegal today--which it should be--why is it legal to discriminate against those of us with disabilities? For example, why do VR agencies and ADA paratransit agencies only go for those who are deemed to fit the requirements exactly and with no alterations?
Posted by: Jake at March 5, 2008 09:40 PM