Whats the single most important thing an employer must understand in hiring a person with a disability?
Sheridan Walker: Their abilities. If the interviewer is sitting there and all they are thinking is, “I wonder how long this person has been blind,” then it’s not going to work. Employers need to communicate and not be afraid to communicate. If they integrate with the community and get to know people with disabilities, they will succeed. Companies need to increase their knowledge to begin to decrease the barriers. Q: What kinds of sources can employers tap for help? Sheridan Walker: There are so many places to go for information. Everywhere from the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, to state vocational rehabilitation agencies and not-for-profit programs that focus on the employment of people with disabilities. But I think more than just information, businesses need to understand that this is a hands-on learning process. The learning is ongoing and person-to-person. You can’t change things with one hour of training. The goal for the employers should be to have
