Fair to aid disabled workers

[Guest guest]

Fair to aid disabled workers

Event helps to match employees with businesses

Bob Moser

bmoser@...

Melancon's work ethic is built on the most basic - and proven - tenets of good service."I

understand to treat the people how you want them to treat you. It's the

cardinal rule," said Melancon, a nine-year veteran at Chick-Fil-A on

Ambassador Caffery Parkway. He cleans the restaurant, greets visitors

and practices his comedy routine on anyone who's up for it.

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If Melancon had a formal title, it'd probably be "Day Brightener."

"We have to appreciate (customers) so they come here again."Chick-Fil-A's

owner, Arton, made the effort to find Melancon, who has Down

Syndrome, a niche at the restaurant where he could contribute. Five

other employees with disabilities now work at Chick-Fil-A, too.Louisiana

is home to about 400,000 people with disabilities who are of working

age. As many as 275,000 of these adults are unemployed but want to

work, according to the Louisiana Business Leadership Network.On

Oct. 30 the fourth annual LBLN Job Fair for disabled workers will be in

Lafayette. The organization said that last year it connected 4,200 job

seekers with 525 businesses statewide.Employers who seek out

workers with disabilities are usually rewarded with an energetic and

loyal employee. Those are two characteristics generally lacking in

Lafayette's service industry workforce, where job openings are a dime a

dozen and turnover is high for managers.It's also satisfying and

rewarding for both the manager and employee, said Wilkerson,

president of Kergan Brothers Sonic Restaurants.Two years ago

Wilkerson's friend, Sharmaine Welborn, asked his advice on where her

daughter, , could find a job that fit with her Down Syndrome

characteristics.Though Sharmaine said she was typically shy and

hesitant to meet strangers, Wilkerson wanted to try as a

"check-back girl" at the Sonic restaurant in Broussard. This person

approaches cars to offer napkins or other help after a meal is

delivered, and was the repetitive task he thought could

embrace.She did within two days, quicker than anyone imagined, Wilkerson said."Now

she loves it, it is her life, you ask her and she'll say she runs that

store," Wilkerson said. "() now has a responsibility she

probably never had in her life before, she loves what she does and we

love having her at our restaurant."It lead to 's friend, , also with Down Syndrome, being hired for the same work at Sonic."I

think it's wonderful what has done, because I don't think people

who don't have Downs children realize," said Sharmaine, 's

mother. "People out there need jobs, and it changes their lives to have

a job." Welborn is proud of herself now. She looks

forward to going to work, and loves making money. Goals of a big-screen

TV and favorite DVDs are within her reach now."It's not just a

gift, they do a job and they do it very well," Wilkerson said. "I would

love to have this at all of our stores. The fact of the matter is we

can put these people to work and they can feel a great and tremendous

sense of responsibility, and we can help achieve our goal of customer

service."http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070909/BUSINESS/709090341/1046 Carol in IL AIM doihavtasay1Mom to seven including , 6 with TOF, AVcanal, GERD, LS, Asthma, subglottal stenosis, and DS.My problem is not how I look. It's how you see me. Join our Down Syndrome information group - Down Syndrome Treatment/ Listen to oldest dd's music http://www.myspace.com/vennamusic

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