Blog [with]tv

Walgreens is Leading the Way

Buzzing in the Workplace
By: Rob Roy 

Walgreens is Leading the Way
Buzzing in the Workplace
By: Rob Roy

Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, is leading the way in enhancing hiring of people with disabilities. On June 14, 2007, the company opened a new distribution center in Anderson, North Carolina equipped with technology and management training to facilitate hiring and retaining people with disabilities.  The center has touch screens for the vision-impaired, flexible workstations, wheelchair ramps and elevators. All workers receive disability awareness training, and managers go through a special program run by the University of North Carolina on supporting disabled employees.

For the past year, the distribution center has staffed approximately 400 people, almost 40% of who have a disclosed disability.  The center’s creation is not about empathy and is not subjected to lower performance expectations. Each team member is expected to perform at same level regardless of whether or not he or she has a disability.

In fact, the distribution center has shown the positive contribution people with disabilities can make to companies. The center is Walgreen’s most efficient distribution center in the United States and has been a tremendous success that the company is opening a new center in Windsor, Connecticut later this year.
The following is a  clip about the Anderson, N.C. center featured on NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=B2akb4v2cUQ

To learn more about the distribution center in Anderson, North Carolina or to consider employment opportunities with the company – visit www.Walgreensoutreach.com.  The website is designed to be accessible by people with sensory, physical and cognitive disabilities

Thanks, Walgreens, for being an example and leading the way.

Press Release re: the ADA Amendments Act

House of Representatives Approves Bill to Protect Americans with Disabilities from Discrimination

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- {The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation today to stop discrimination against individuals with disabilities by restoring the original intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A message from Howard, CEO & Founder, [with]tv

Dear Friend,

I have been meaning to send out an update on our successes and progress for quite some time now and have been unable to do so until now. Please forgive. I know it can be very frustrating waiting for [with]tv to get where we all want it to be. All I can say is that such an endeavor takes an immense amount of passion, energy, creativity, and time. The team of volunteers that works daily on [with]tv for the benefit of all has this, and more. I want to thank Connie, Anna, Mitch, Kathy, Rick, Amber, Scott, Stephen, Elizabeth, Karen, Vince, Day, Jennifer, Rob, Sofya, Mitch, Ron, Chester, and so many others for all they do. It is frustrating for all of us. We all have day jobs (well, I don’t), (well, that is not quite true, I do assist Victoria daily and she assists me!)  We all have much on our plates and everyone is waiting for the day when we can all greet each other daily in our 100% accessible workplace as members of our 100% inclusive workforce. Then we will no longer be volunteers, but will be employees of [with]tv. I look forward to that day and in spades. Then, no more ‘Mr. Nice Guy’.

Seriously though, we all believe in what we are trying to do together, and that means so much to me and keeps me going when I may want to stop. What we are all working on is a project that will indeed benefit us directly in terms of employment, health benefits, and a creative outlet for our energies. But it will immediately benefit and impact upon so many others throughout the world and that is where [with]tv’s true value resides. So here is what we all have been up to. If I leave anything out, please forgive and advise. Will be more communicative, more frequently, going forward.  Just remember there is a lot to do every day. Volunteers in all areas welcome with open arms.

Why We Need TV and Movies That Include People with Disabilities: Part 104

So there I was today on NPR’s “On Point” program with two terrific blind professionals and I was feeling like the school kid who has to use the bathroom and can’t wait any longer to announce the matter. I needed to say that the reason blind people are so woefully unemployed and the reason that the public marvels at the accomplishments of exemplary blind professionals like Gordon Gund or David A. Paterson is that the film and TV industries continue to make blindness look horrible.  Who wouldn’t imagine, after seeing that dreadful movie “At First Sight” (with Val Kilmer and Mira Sorvino) that being blind isn’t a minimal life? That movie came out at the same time as my memoir “Planet of the Blind” and it reinforced every cliché about blindness that I was trying to conquer. If the human resources professionals saw a prime time television show in which a blind person confidently uses state of the art assistive technology—heck, even showing the non-disabled characters a thing or two about the gizmos, well that would be as big a step toward changing the climate of unemployment for the blind as our well intentioned celebration of Governor Paterson’s oath of office. Let’s face it: the public thinks that blind people are scarcely able to navigate their living rooms. How could they possibly serve as good employees? That Ph.D. or Master’s degree must be some kind of a trick. That’s it! The “brainiac” blind woman or man is probably “faking it” just like those guys you see  begging for money with the phony sunglasses. Yep! That’s gotta be it! How do I know this at (insert company name here)? Because I just saw Disney’s film version of Mr. Magoo. Now there’s a blind guy for you! Ha! I laughed til  I dropped my popcorn on my plaid shorts. Boy Oh Boy  was that ever a good movie!

In case anybody’s wondering, I was once interviewed by a producer of ABC’s television program “20/20”about the possibility of an interview associated with the publication of “Planet of the Blind”. What did I do to ruin the deal? I mentioned that ABC is owned by Disney and that the new film of Mr. Magoo was a disgrace. They were very nice as they showed me to the door.

S.K.   

Professor Stephen Kuusisto
Department of English
The University of Iowa
308 EPB
Iowa City, IA 52242

Links:

Remembering Mr. Magoo

Cross-posted on Planet of the Blind
 

PepsiCo’s EnAble

"Buzzing in the Workplace" By Rob Roy

Several weeks back I wrote about different ways one can identify whether or not a firm is truly committed to hiring people with disabilities. One factor I mentioned was to consider whether or not a firm has an Employee Resource Group for people with disabilities, as the group tends to facilitate and improve employee engagement on disability issues.

If you watched the Super Bowl, you may have learned of one such employee group called EnAble. EnAble is a group within PepsiCo that supports diversity and the inclusion of persons with different abilities.

EnAble created a commercial for the Super Bowl that was performed entirely in sign language and contained subtitles. The spot was created by and features PepsiCo employees who are members of EnAble. The ad is an attempt to demonstrate PepsiCo’s commitment to diversity by airing the first ad using ASL and subtitles only on a national broadcasting network (there was no sound at all).   

According to PepsiCo, "this is one way we can give back through what we call Performance with Purpose. It's part of a larger effort to make PepsiCo the defining corporation of the 21st century. By bringing the world an ad performed by deaf employees in ASL, we feel like we've already scored the upset on Super Bowl Sunday."

While the ad may have produced mix feeling among members of our community, one fact remains true -- without a group like EnAble we may never have seen such an ad played during the Super Bowl. Additionally, EnAble opened the door for dialogue about the media’s level of engagement on disability issues, and raises awareness on the importance of corporate hiring practices to include hiring people with disabilities.

If you didn’t catch the ad, check it out below:

Two guys in a pickup truck (one’s drinking a Pepsi) are headed to a Super Bowl party hosted by their friend Bob, but they stop on the darkened upper-middle-class street after neither one remembers which house is his.

The two spend a bit of time arguing before the driver gets an idea and repeatedly honks the horn. House lights begin to pop on as they slowly work through the neighborhood, honking along the way.

They stop at the only house that remains dark and the driver declares, “That’s it!”

“Yeah, ya think?” the passenger replies sarcastically.

They walk up and ring Bob’s doorbell, prompting Bob’s foyer light to flash three times (it took me a few times before I caught that). Bob lets the pair in, and the passenger gives a quick “Sorry” to a puzzled neighbor before walking inside.

Thank you, Nancy Sopkowiak of Access Press

Nancy Sopkowiak has written an article for Access Press, "Minnesota's Disability Community Newspaper", in which she introduces her readers to [with]tv.

Her article in the January 10, 2008 edition, titled In Front of and Behind the Cameras, tells the story behind Howard Renensland's vision for [with]tv.  It's a warm and personal story, one that has clearly made an impression on Nancy.

Nancy, the "folks" at [with]tv thank you for your enthusiasm and support.

Pssssst. Santa, listen up!

Valerie Brew-Parrish, columnist for The Herald News, and disability "advocate, mother, grandie and wife" has written a serious letter to Santa.

Dear Santa Claus,

As you leave the North Pole, and fly through the night, there are some issues that just aren't quite right.

I'd like to ask you to lend me your ear, to tell you what people with disabilities want this year. 

So grab a pencil in your fist, as I have a rather long list.

Read Valerie's letter to Santa in Santa may deliver what gives folks quivers