Hiring an Adult with a Disability is a Win-Win
Strides student Chris Yang working at the Castro Valley High School Cafeteria.
If you walk into the busy Castro Valley High School cafeteria, you might notice a cheery kitchen helper, Chris Yan. Chris is a student in the Strides Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities at Castro Valley Adult & Career Education (CVACE). There was a time when these adults would have been underestimated and not been given the opportunity to work. CVACE is supporting adults in getting jobs with a new paid internship program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Castro Valley employers are reporting that it is a great win-win situation.
The new internship program is an excellent opportunity for employers to get great help at no cost to them. Students in the Strides Program work with a job coach to learn their job and be set up for success. They are paid through the school at no cost to host businesses. Host businesses have the opportunity to hire interns or continue to host interns as program partner. If a business directly hires the student, they are eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit of up to $2400 a year. Students continue taking workplace skills classes and receive job support from their school.
Castro Valley employers like the Lake Chabot Market and TJ Maxx give rave reviews about these students. Studies show this experience is not unusual. According to a Dec 2021 article in Forbes magazine, hiring workers with disabilities is good for business. The article cited a study by the Institute for Corporate Productivity which found “employees with developmental disabilities contributed to higher productivity, lower absenteeism and increased customer loyalty.” A diverse workplace also improves employee morale and empathy for these loyal workers who tend to have low turnover rates.
Chris’s contributions are certainly appreciated. His site manager reports “Chris is amazing. He has grown a lot in our kitchen. He is very observant with portion size making sure things are correct. He is a very good employee and you really only have to explain things to him once. We love having him and he has definitely become a part of our team.”
Are you an employer interested in hiring an enthusiastic and motivated employee? Chris is a great example that you can have high expectations for adults with disabilities, and they will be able to meet them with the right support. If you are a business owner interested in hiring an adult with a disability or learning more about the program, please contact Shannon Thomas at (510) 886-1000 or sthomas@cv.k12.ca.us.