Comments on: Disabled workers may lose their jobs

By: Caz

Caz — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:58:42 +0000

Huhana is right ask us, I used to work in the Sheltered Workshops!, I was only paid $50 dollars a week, please do not dispute this as I was there and I know how much I got.

That's not work that's forced labour, I believe the people in the workshops should be paid the minimum wage of $11.25, give me one reason why they shouldn't get the same pay as you.

There is alot of jobs out there that IDEA(formerly IHC) residence could do, I once did work experience with a young lady at a supermarket who was happy to be paid to pack shelves, show them a few times and they will catch on, some can pack shopping bags, stack trolleys, pack shelves and can even make good cleaners, we just need people to give them a chance.

By the way Hi Huhana how's it going?

By: “You’ll either earn more, or get fired” - NZ Government

“You’ll either earn more, or get fired” - NZ Government — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 10:51:50 +0000

[...] this is such a tough one. I know I’ve harped on about this before, but reading this article in the Herald today made me think about it all over again, and I’m [...]

By: Red

Red — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:05:11 +0000

Here's the link to the stuff article: Click here to read

By: barbz

barbz — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:35:04 +0000

Kia ora Jan,

I work in mental health and we have a new organisation here called workwise, they are are getting people into work, people who were never expected to get work of any kind and the system really encourages people to stay on benefit. They have learnt to cultivate employers, encourage them to employ one, who they know will succeed and then suggest others. People talk and more jobs come.

More and more employers are seeing the benefit of employing people with disabilities and the momentem will grow.

My problem with sheltered work is that it limits people. I know of a situation where a sheltered workplace got an exemption for someone and paid them at a low rate. This person was working part-time in the weekends and getting the full rate from a real employer. Eventually he was able to get full time work.

I have also seen situations when people are kept in sheltered work because they are good workers, and if they moved to real work the organisation would suffer.

There is a great article on Stuff today but I didn't know how to put it on this site encouraging employer and listing the benefits of employing people with disabilities.

Cheers

Barbz

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:23:23 +0000

barbz; Just where do all the disabled get these full time; part time; etc work in the mainstream workplace? Oh we can all name a few who have and are successful; but you are advocating alot more than a few. Have you canvassed the businesses around town and come home with a list who are prepared to employ a disabled person now [not put you off with "in the future"] reply. Idealistic thinking in good in theory; but realistic thinking is much more practical.

By: Jane Emerson

Jane Emerson — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:48:40 +0000

hi there, i to have a disability & with these changes i feel a bit apprehensive cause of what is going to happen with this pathways to inclusion, but you just got to try & think possitive, it is interesting seeing your site.

From Jane Emerson

By: Jan

Jan — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:08:21 +0000

The "oldie" here again. Since 1983 my hubby has worked looking after disabled folk who at the end of their day at our local Achievement Centre [Sheltered Workshops label went out years ago]; need accommodation – so he runs the residential side. At the Centre over the years has been an average number of approx. 100 clients and I can honestly say I can count on my fingers the number who have moved on into working in the outside community. It sounds ideal; but in reality it is the person`s disability that does not allow this to happen. "Pathway to Inclusion" is just another idealist idea coming from government. Oooo our clients will be called employees; they will be paid for the hourly output of work based on their work ability; but it will be put against a "sliding scale" of their benefits. So the Centre will pay them more; WINZ will pay them less; and in the end they will be financially no better off. Those who prove too disabled to put out an hourly work rate; are supposed to do community participation. Quite what this will be; nobody is too sure. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Achievement Centres – in my opinion – and this new idea is proving totally disruptive and disturbing to clients. They usually spend their day with a smile on their face; but now its tears. Just how many disabled people; and what variety of disabilities; were canvassed before bringing in "Pathways to Inclusion"?????? By what we are witnessing – not nearly enough

By: connectionab » Blog Archive » Disabled workers may lose their jobs

connectionab » Blog Archive » Disabled workers may lose their jobs — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:00:17 +0000

[...] here for full story Author Comments [...]

By: barbz

barbz — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:10:33 +0000

kia ora Bernadette,

I agree that there is a place for people to go to reintergrate, but I know of people who have been attending a training centre for 10 year or more. My concern is that people go to sheltered workshops for life, and it becomes their life and the only people they see are staff and other people with disabilities, they aren't really a part of community. I want every individual to participate in their community and that means work, part time work, full time work, it doesn't matter, but for part of their day people are something other than a person with a disability. They are some one who works, pays taxes like everyone else.

I don't believe that is too much to ask

By: Bernadette

Bernadette — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:25:20 +0000

I think that sheltered workshops have their place. When I was in a residentual home after a depressive break down this type of work was suggested to some of us to slowly reintergrate us into society. It was considered a safe starting point and for many of the people I knew who went into it found it quite rewarding in many ways. I was someone that wasn't able to be a part of the program because of my physical disabilities but from experience know that these workshops can work wonders.