Preview of October’s Special Blogs
Written by Robert D. Sollars
While this is a new thing to do for me, announcing upcoming postings, I thought it would be good for you to know, this way you won’t miss any of them. #1 is the fact that October is National Domestic Violence (DV) Awareness Month as well as National Disabled Employment Awareness Month. Most of the postings you’ll be receiving next month will be focused on those two subjects.
The reasonings are simple; No one seems to care about DV …unless you’re familiar with the person being victimized, which can be too late for the victim. Most organizations believe it’s a personal issue and doesn’t belong in the organization, or it’s a personal issue that shouldn’t be talked about. But it certainly does belong and is talked about, in any location.
Of course, each organization has innumerable policies & procedures to deal with DV. However, I don’t believe that organizations go far enough to protect their people. Whether this is an educational institution where children who are abused can be helped or even higher education where adults can be assisted. Companies, large & small, also don’t go far enough.
These places will take a ‘toe in the cold water routine to say “See we’re doing and dealing with the issues. We care about our people.” In reality, they’re doing this, along with the policies & procedures that legal writes and have to be explained to everyone by legal, that they’re doing something to satisfy legal requirements in court.
But satisfying the requirements of a court and legal proceedings is far less important than actually doing something useful to assist the victims. The cold water helps bruises, but they don’t stop them from appearing. Organizations need to attempt to STOP these things from happening.
#2 is the same as #1…almost. The disabled in this country has an unemployment rate in excess of 50%, and some studies show that 75% after the pandemic, of the population who wish to work. Some disabled individuals would rather sit in the corner, twiddling their thumbs saying “Woe is me; woe is me.” Or worse idling the day away with idle chit-chat and playing games– I’ve ‘seen’ it for myself. But those who wish to work have a hard time finding suitable work for a myriad of reasons, which will become clear in the postings.
Most employers don’t believe that a disabled person can do anything but be a nuisance. What those self-important people out there realize is that many of us that are disabled had previous lives in the work arena, and have an experience that may be valuable to them or another employer. Succinctly, despite what they may say…they’re short-sighted & immature.
All of my issues with DV and attempting to find a career will be explained in these postings. I hope that maybe you’ll read them and discover something new that you hadn’t thought of before or even tried to hire a disabled person because you had the wrong assumptions. Remember what assume means…it makes an ass out of you and me!
Like these blogs? Then please feel free to pass them along, with proper attribution, to friends, colleagues, or anyone who may benefit, with proper attribution. Have them subscribe to my website: Sollars Violence Prevention Training & Consulting
It happens to Anyone…Any Time…Anywhere… For any Reason
I May Be Blind, but My Vision Is Crystal Clear
Copyright 2022 Robert D. Sollars
