Hotel Front Office Management, 3rd Edition

354 CHAPTER 12: TRAINING FOR HOSPITALITYSince the program’s creation in 1989, Bridges has placed more than 5,000 (as of2001) students in paid internships with over 1,300 employers (as of 2001). Eightysevenpercent of the students completing the program have received offers of continuedemployment. “Finding meaningful employment can be hard enough foryoung people, not to mention young people with disabilities,” said Richard E.Marriott, chairman of the Marriott Foundation. “By working with school districtsand employers, the Foundation’s Bridges program is helping these young peopleand their employers break through the ‘fear’ barrier and think in terms of ‘ability’versus ‘disability,’ ” 4The seven “Fears vs. Realities about Employing People with Disabilities” are as follows:1. Fear—People with disabilities need expensive accommodations.Reality—Often, no accommodation is needed. When necessary, most accommodationscost very little or nothing at all.2. Fear—I’ll have to do more work.Reality—Not true, especially when the abilities and skills of the individual arematched with the needs of the job. More effective matching up front will makedisabilities largely irrelevant.3. Fear—I’ll have to supervise more.Reality—Most employees with disabilities do their jobs as well as, or better than,other employees in similar jobs, and often seem more motivated and dependable.4. Fear—Turnover and absenteeism will be high.Reality—Studies show that employees with disabilities rate average to aboveaverage on attendance.5. Fear—People with disabilities may not be able to do the job.Reality—Because people with disabilities often have to work harder to get thejob they want and, therefore, appreciate what having a job means, they typicallyperform up to and beyond expectations. The key is effectively matching skillsto job needs, focusing on ability.6. Fear—People with disabilities need preferential treatment.Reality—People with disabilities neither require [n]or want to be treated anydifferently than employees without disabilities. What people with disabilities doneed is an equal opportunity.7. Fear—Will people with disabilities fit in?Reality—As part of a diverse workforce, employees with disabilities often bringunique life experiences which can be a shot in the arm for the entire workplace.Their perspectives on, and approach to their jobs can be contagious, creating apositive ripple effect. 5TLFeBOOK