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