| According to the U.S. Census Department, | | | | unfamiliar with the tenets of the ADA believe |
| approximately fifty-four million Americans | | | | that compliance means budget-busting expenses |
| are disabled, or have considered themselves | | | | to benefit a small group who will not elevate |
| disabled at one time or another. While this | | | | their bottom line in any significant way. |
| number represents a large percentage of the | | | | They seem to prefer to do nothing and wait |
| workforce, the vast majority of individuals | | | | until they receive a complaint, threat of |
| with disabilities are unemployed. In fact, | | | | litigation, or worse . . . have a sheaf of |
| about seventy percent of Americans with | | | | legal documents served to them.Why should a |
| disabilities who want to work are unemployed. | | | | small business make changes? It is a mistake |
| Of the remaining thirty percent, only a | | | | to believe that all people with disabilities |
| fraction is gainfully employed full-time.As a | | | | are poor, and therefore cannot afford your |
| result, people with disabilities are almost | | | | products or services. It is a myth that |
| twice as likely to start their own businesses | | | | people with disabilities have no disposable |
| as their non-disabled counterparts.Only eight | | | | income and no desire to spend it. If an |
| percent of non-disabled workers are | | | | individual who does not drive because they |
| self-employed, whereas fourteen percent of | | | | are blind, or who uses a wheelchair arrives |
| workers with disabilities are | | | | at your place of business, you can be assured |
| self-employed.As an entrepreneur with a | | | | they are a qualified customer. Chances are, |
| disability, I fall into the latter group. | | | | that individual went to great effort just to |
| Unable to find gainful employment in my | | | | get to your establishment, so ensure that |
| community, I sought to create my own place. | | | | they do not leave your business empty |
| The turning point came when two years of | | | | handed.In the workplace, accommodating the |
| aggressive work search that yielded nothing | | | | particular needs of an employee with a |
| finally led me to consider a receptionist's | | | | disability need not be expensive. The ADA |
| position. Despite my college education, my | | | | sets forth that "reasonable accommodations" |
| formidable oral and written communication | | | | be made so as to enable an individual to |
| skills, my business management experience and | | | | competently perform the duties required. An |
| a private consulting endeavor, I felt as | | | | employer is not expected to provide |
| though answering the phone for a living was | | | | state-of-the-art equipment, nor is the |
| the only option left. Unfortunately, even | | | | company required to fill a long wish list of |
| that door was closed to me. Unwilling to | | | | gadgets and gizmos. In fact, there are |
| schedule an in-person interview until he | | | | numerous alternative funding sources and |
| satisfied his curiosity, the potential | | | | service organizations for this purpose.If a |
| employer grilled me via telephone first."So, | | | | small business finds that accommodating a |
| how do you people do things? How can you | | | | disability poses an undue hardship, they are |
| answer phones? Our phones are complicated. | | | | not required to fulfill the legal obligation; |
| They have buttons on them. How could you | | | | however, a business owner or manager might be |
| transfer calls or place calls? How would you | | | | surprised to learn just how easy it can be to |
| know what the buttons were?"Astounded, I | | | | meet a minimum. Secondhand or donated |
| didn't bother to point out that I was | | | | equipment, whether current or somewhat less |
| speaking to him by phone right then, and that | | | | so, is considered "reasonable." As long as |
| I placed the call all by myself. | | | | the accommodations help the employee to get |
| Furthermore, with the latest technological | | | | the job done, that's all that is needed. |
| advances, such as Braille, invented in the | | | | Instead of purchasing a custom-made, |
| 19th Century, it was very likely that despite | | | | specialty ergonomic desk configuration to |
| a steep learning curve requiring intense | | | | accommodate a wheelchair, raising the |
| training, eventually I might make an adequate | | | | existing desk on blocks may be |
| receptionist. Instead, I thanked him for | | | | sufficient.Taking the time to understand the |
| his time, and left him to his | | | | truth about people who are potential |
| ignorance.Attitudes such as his finally | | | | customers as well as employees can |
| prompted me to start my own business, which | | | | tremendously enhance your business, as well |
| is a small yet satisfying sole | | | | as your personal growth. Even if you have no |
| proprietorship. In educating others as to | | | | opportunity to hire a candidate with a |
| the myths and misconceptions about people | | | | disability, make your business a |
| with disabilities and related workplace | | | | disabled-friendly establishment. Keep in |
| issues and hiring practices, I've discovered | | | | mind that attitudinal barriers can be as |
| that many small business owners still tend to | | | | seemingly insurmountable as the physical |
| believe the worst about the Americans with | | | | barriers. As a business owner, you are a |
| Disabilities Act and how it can affect their | | | | leader in your community, and can set an |
| business.It is a myth that the Americans with | | | | example that will benefit both your image and |
| Disabilities Act mandates costly construction | | | | your bottom line.Copyright 2005. All rights |
| and architectural renovation. Rather, the | | | | reserved.Laura Gillson is a speaker, author |
| ADA is a guideline that among other things, | | | | and educator specializing in disability |
| attempts to provide for equal access to | | | | awareness, advocacy, accessibility and |
| public buildings by removing barriers to that | | | | assistive technology. |
| access.Small business owners who are | | | | |