Re: Digest Number 2170

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/15/04 12:17:19 PM, Mike writes:

> I do walk

> into walls from time to time.

>

Oh, good. It's not just me. (That's the specific reason I quit acting....)

And Barbara, no experience, but geez -- have they no shame? If it applies to

undergrads, it should apply to postgrads. Equal protection under the law.

[Guest guest]

> And Barbara, no experience, but geez -- have they no shame? If it applies

to

> undergrads, it should apply to postgrads. Equal protection under the law.

That was what *I* thought and it is right. However, equal rights under the

law does not mean equal treatment in the real world, as we have all so often

been reminded.

I was actually thinking of the ADA discrimination problems at a meeting

earlier this week. I volunteer with the Refugee Women's Alliance. One of

their services is job placement assistance for refugees and immigrants. One

of the volunteers told the story of how her office had worked extensively on

the cases of two women. They had provided job training, helped them get the

education and certifications they needed for a particular field, and taught

them to speak English. They even drove the ladies to apply for jobs. On

arriving at a site to pick up an application, both were told, " we have no

jobs for you. " The jobs were only advertised in the paper the day before

and could certainly not have been filled already. The ladies offered their

resumes and asked that they be considered if another opening became

available. The receptionist glared at them and threw the resumes in the

trash can right in front of them. The message - " African-American Muslims,

need not apply. "

It was this story of racial/religious discrimination that reminded me of how

similar this is to disability discrimination. I actually brought up the

comparison in our meeting. People with visible disabilities face the same

kind of discrimination - " we have no jobs for people in wheelchairs. " And

for us with hidden disabilities, we can get in the door, but we have

difficulty getting our legally entitled accommodations.

Most of the time, people don't even realize I have difficulty. Most of the

time, I can get by without help. But when I need help - I need help and I

can't " make do " without it. Assistance in college brought me from C's and

D's to straight A's immediately. It was never a matter of being " not smart

enough " as I was told in 4th grade. It was always a simple matter of my

hands. I have been truly blessed to work for a wonderful company for 8.5

years where any accommodation I have needed has been given immediately. I

wish more employers were like mine. Regardless of our disability, religion,

or race we all have something to contribute if we are given the tools and

the opportunities to do so.

Okay, enough rambling. This has all just made me rather thoughtful...

-Barb