The Jobs I did not get......

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Name: Gary Roberts
Email: jg86@hotmail.com
Date: 31 Oct 2000
Time: 23:34:17

Story

As an individual with a disability who is highly qualified in my field, I have received my shares of snubs on job applications. I often look into the process used in the hiring decision and determine where I came up short in over coming the final hurdle.

I know by heart the argument against Equal Employment Laws. They cause reverse discrimination -- poor nondisabled people are passed over in favor or less qualified people with disabilities. They are repulsed by the idea that someone not qualified may land a job over someone who had more experience.

This sentiment caused me to literally fall out of my chair laughing. I have worked in various types of settings from private agencies to large state agencies. I have worked outside in industry as well and have a variety of experiences on my platter.These experiences have taught me how little qualifications have to do with landing a job. The rule of thumb is, as it has always been, that it ain't what you know, baby; it is who you know.

The quota system which exists in reality is all nondisabled -- within programs serving the disabled. I have sat down with many people who have positions of power and decision making and asked them, "Why are you in the position you are in?" This question has not made me popular with those people, but I am truly intrigued at the answers I get. Many of them talk about their long term interest in serving people with disabilities, their professional qualifications and their dedication. In my service on a state Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, we labored to make the hiring process neutral and focused on qualifications. Clear guidelines were established and the mangers were trained in following those guidelines. We got verbal commitment, but, in truth, the guidelines were full of holes. I remember a supervisor calling to have a applicant he favored put back on the hire list when the initial panel had screened the person out as not being qualified. I remember the hiring of a person with no college degree as a counselor over applicants with masters degrees and work experience in a similar agency. So experience has taught me that standards are a joke and no one pays close attention to them -- except when they want to reject an applicant who is qualified but disabled.

We are told, "You don't need Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Laws; we will take care of you." The sad thing is that a lot of people accept this argument, and the big lie told often enough becomes the standard practice. As we look more closely at the obvious failure of rehab policy (as shown by the ever-growing numbers of people with disabilities who fall onto the income transfer programs), this fact should lead us to question why this is so and why, after billions of dollars in spending, has so little been accomplished. Do we blame our lack of upward mobility on our being the victims of discrimination?

That is, in truth, where I place a lot of the blame. Not many welfare recipients have ever risen to manage a public welfare program; not many people with disabilities have risen to manage state vocational rehab agencies. Ninety eight percent of rehab professionals are not individuals with disabilities. These people have a vested interest in keeping us down and powerless. We know there is a law, the ADA, but, at same time, we know enforcement is not given priority and the courts are hostile to our court challenges.

What I feel is needed is a rewriting of rehab policy. In other words, end vocational rehab as we know it. I have many ideas on how this could be accomplished but am more interested in viewing other peoples ideas at this time. It would be good to have a debate on these issues.

The Jobs I did not get......

Story

Last changed: April 20, 2004