Disability pride month puts focus on finding work for largest minority population

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Running the forklift is the greatest portion of Ron Pierce’s day. “[I] get out there, clean air and just driving all over is a whole lot of enjoyable,” he informed 10 On Your Aspect.

Pierce cleans, wraps and packs cable chords and remote controls for Cox Cable through a contract with Eggleston. The heart in Norfolk employs about 500 people today, most of whom have some kind of disability.

“We have some good personal associates that are ready to choose a probability on people today with disabilities, we’re on the lookout for a lot more,” reported Eggleston Chief Working Officer, Harry Misewicz.

The unemployment charge for folks with disabilities is additional than 10%.

Misewicz believes many companies misunderstand what it normally takes to deliver a person with a disability onto their staff.

“They imagine it is a great deal they are going to have to invest they’re heading to have to install a ramp and individuals type of items, but it’s not necessarily that. There are people with disabilities that could be placed wherever in the local community,” he reported.

Usually, employees with disabilities have been pigeon-holed into very low paying out positions when numerous are able of considerably far more.

Comprehensive-time workers with disabilities designed almost $6,300 a 12 months fewer than people with no incapacity in Virginia, according to census facts.

Eggleston is now location up plans to aid the larger functioning disabled in HVAC- plumbing and electrical operate. They can also established up your organization and the worker for results.

“It’s existence-altering if any person can get placed in the local community with the correct aid,” claimed Misewicz.

For Pierce, it’s not just earning a paycheck that pays the charges, it’s about a operate family members.

“They appear up to me like a mentor you know.”

It drives him to function really hard, and are living to his total opportunity.