Jonah Selber is glaring proof of how finding and keeping a job can transform a life. Jonah has been working for 17 years in the information systems department at a hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a dependable hardworking young man who is much more than just his diagnosis of being born with a developmental disability. Jonah bucks the statistics. Seventy per cent of all people with disabilities are unemployed.
With supportive coaching programs, employers are reporting success in finding and keeping more employees like Jonah. Walgreens, AMC Theatres, Office Max and Publix grocery stores are just a few of the corporations who are discovering the value of employing more people with disabilities.
In Atlanta, there are strong efforts to boost the hiring of workers who may need more support. Recently, All About Developmental Disabilities received a $2.5 million gift from the Sarah K. Kennedy Endowment Fund. This gift will be tremendously meaningful for people with developmental disabilities, who have little or no financial means. This gift will help the workers like Jonah, live more independently within their communities. The State of Georgia is also starting a model program for graduating seniors to get job training and on site coaching. This kind of program will help more graduates with developmental disabilities find and keep jobs.
With a little bit of effort and creative thinking, the marketplace can soon be filled with more success stories like Jonah Selber. To find out more about Jonah and jobs for people with disabilities contact www.RespectAbilityUSA.org. andwww.aadd.org.