| As the Caribbean looks for more ways to become | | | | Myth. People with disabilities need extra help from |
| competitive in the Free Trade Market, it's important not | | | | fellow employees and that is a time waster. |
| to overlook people society labels as disabled. Disabled | | | | Truth. Again that statement is false. People with |
| people possess valuable skills that can be utilized by | | | | disabilities are capable of caring for themselves and |
| almost any employer, but the key is to breakdown the | | | | would prefer not to be given preferential treatment. In |
| negative barriers and misconceptions that have | | | | fact, it's often the able body onlooker who feels |
| dominated the minds of mainstream culture. | | | | sympathy for the individual and wants to offer |
| Quite frankly, the word disabled conjures up distorted | | | | assistance. They do not need sympathy, just a fair |
| images of people not able to function and that is | | | | shot at earning a living. |
| inaccurate. That image is compounded by the fact that | | | | Myth. People with disabilities should be given easy |
| children are not educated and sensitized about these | | | | work. |
| issues so they grow up thinking it's O.K to make fun of | | | | Truth. A person's physical disability does not mean that |
| or refer to the disabled with derogatory terms. That | | | | their mind is not sharp. Challenge the worker as they |
| mindset does not change as that child becomes an | | | | have feelings and will get bored or feel disrespected if |
| adult and enters the workforce. | | | | their colleagues go out of their way to offer easy |
| Communities worldwide have had to figure out, over | | | | tasks. |
| the decades, how to incorporate disabled individuals | | | | Myth. When people with disabilities make a mistake |
| into the general workforce. The solution for some | | | | you should go easy on them. |
| societies has been to create products or services that | | | | Truth. When errors are made they should be |
| are made exclusively by a group of disabled people. | | | | corrected and the same standard should be used |
| While that is a great idea, it should not be the only type | | | | across the board for the able bodied and the disabled. |
| of employment available. | | | | The goal is to incorporate the disabled and treat them |
| People with disabilities have different abilities that make | | | | as humans with dignity and respect, not scorn and |
| them capable, qualified workers, depending on the | | | | indifference. |
| position and industry. Employers must begin to address | | | | KAREN S. HINDS is an author, consultant, and founder |
| the prejudices and the apprehension that has kept so | | | | of Karen Hinds Seminars, an international company |
| many from opening their doors to people with | | | | with operations in the Caribbean and the USA that |
| disabilities. In order to do that there are a few myths | | | | combines her American business savvy with |
| that must be debunked so progress can begin. | | | | Caribbean hospitality and British style and grace. |
| Myth. People with disabilities are not good workers. | | | | Karen's acclaimed seminars give her audiences a |
| Truth. That statement is not true, a person who has a | | | | competitive edge in their businesses and careers by |
| disability wants to be treated "normal" and they tend to | | | | teaching management and staff how to improve their |
| work harder to gain approval and meet and even | | | | behavior and interactions with others to build more |
| exceed the expectations of the employer. | | | | productive relationships -- in and out of the workplace. |