Disability Adds to the Burdens of Joblessness
By Marcia Heroux Pounds © Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida — So you’re having trouble finding a job. That’s understandable in this economy, but consider if you were in a wheelchair with spina bifida and you were looking for a job. Or you were blind or deaf. A disability does not discourage Isaiah Woon, 29, from looking for work in architectural drafting. He recently graduated from Sheridan Vocational in South Florida. His wheelchair is not an obstacle to working — all he needs is his work table lowered, says Woon, who was at a recent job fair for the disabled at Nova Southeastern University. Obstacles to finding work are nothing new for the disabled. They have to build their skills and network to find a job like any other candidates. But they have the extra tasks of persuading an employer that it is not too expensive or difficult to employ someone with a disability. The disabled can distinguish themselves as survivors who are persistent and creative…. READ ARTICLE