Protection vital for future, locals tell Mabus
August 17, 2010Back-to-school road safety tips for children and parents
August 19, 2010Shandrekia Shorty and spent a day in July learning the ropes as she shadowed an Amelia Belle Casino administrative assistant. At the front desk, Theodore “TC” Bazile was answering phones and greeting visitors. And, down the hall, Jonquoin Williams and the human resources staff were assembling orientation binders and training materials.
To most casino guests, it probably looked like any other day on the job.
In reality, it was Best Buddies Louisiana’s Buddies at Work project in action. The initiative is designed to raise awareness of the abilities of people with disabilities in the workplace.
Shorty, Bazile and Williams each have a developmental disability. All three are participants of Reaching Seniors Inc., a Lutcher-based company that provides supervised independent living in addition to other personal care services.
“Our employees enjoyed working alongside Shandrekia, TC and Jonquoin,” Amelia Belle’s human resources director Michelle Newman said at the end of the day.
According to Buddies at Work volunteer manager Megan Knapp, the program’s goal is two-fold: to educate employers, entrepreneurs and government leaders on the positive financial benefits of employing people with intellectual or developmental disabilities and to demonstrate the abilities of people with disabilities in meaningful work activities.
“A little more than 50 percent of people with disabilities who are of working age are employed full-time,” said Lori Moore, program supervisor of Best Buddies Louisiana. “People disabilities should be incorporated into the workplace atmosphere as they have just as much to provide as anyone else does.
“People with disabilities have many assets, skills and qualities that contribute to the workplace,” she added.
The far-reaching state campaign teams workers with developmental disabilities in a full realm of career paths, including occupational, educational and recreational settings. The program is funded by the state’s Development Disabilities Council.
Best Buddies was the brainstorm of Anthony Kennedy Shriver. Founded in 1989, the nonprofit organization has six formal programs – Best Buddies Citizens, Colleges, e-Buddies, High Schools, Jobs and Middle Schools – and is expected to impact more than 700,000 people this year.
