The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-11

federal board of vocational education
 with offices at 5o5-s Jefferson Bank build
 ing, is arousing much interest in this
 work in Birmingham.
 He is making an especialNappea to em- ployers to furnish him with lists of the
 men they require in order that he eau aid in placing those discharged soldiers under his Jurisdiction.
 Help the disable man who has helped
 you," is the slogan used in the rehabilita- ton work. Major Fillmore issued the fol-
 lowing statement yesterday addressed to
 Employers of labor:
 The federal board of vocational educs-
 ton has been authorized by Congress in the Smith-Sears or rehabilitation act to
 provide vocational rehabilitation for dis
 abled soldiers and sailors. Broadly
 speaking, the government intends to train
 them for effective entrance into a gain
 full employment. The act further provides for the placement of rehabilitated per- sons in suitable or gainfuI occupations The popular misconeeption of an in- diyidual who has been disabled is of maimed or crippled person. It usually suggests the picture of the industrially ha ndicapped by virtue of the loss of an arm or a leg, or the loss of one or
 both eyes. Such is not the experience of Ln6 16QeTdl DOdTu III uodllIlS WitH Hicl disabled in the war. In the more than
 800 cases which have so far come to the attention of this office there is but one case of blindness. The American ex- peditionary forces had less than 50 men
 blinded as a result of the war. There are in this district perhaps less than a dozen men, according to our last report, who have suffered amputations. The large majority of cases are the result of sickness or of minor injuries due to acci- dent. One man may have heart trouble, another a finger or two missing. third rheumatism or neurasthenia, and so on.
 These men have been physically re- habilitated or, in the words of the Presi- dent, given all medical aid that skill and science make possible For many jobs they are equally as fit as the normal workman in the shop or factory, and probably better trained. The federal board asks your cooperation and assfes-
 ance in fitting these men into the ranks
 of our great civilian army, where they
 can carry on as efficiently as their fei-
 low workmen. If they cannot do the
 whole job, they will not expect full pay
 But of course for equal work every em- Fployer will be glad to give equal pay
 Ut, is not a charity. It is merely the
 payment of draft of honor which the United States of America accepted when
 it selected these men. They have fought the good fight; they have kept the faith, and they have won. Now we keep faith with them, and every citizen is in
 dorser on the general obligation
 We believe that you are interested in helping these men who have been disabled
 in the service of Uncle Sam to get locat6
 in suitable occupations. By filling out the
 cards supplied by this office with list of the jobs generally open in your busi-
 ness you will enable us to determine whether or not one or more of our men
 might fit into one of these places
 If YOU are willing to cooperate with
 us. one of our representatives will get Tn
 touch with you, in order to determine Just what positions may be available. l ..It is the desire of the federal board that no man shall return to civilian life as a liability to the community, put that he shall be trained for useful occupa- ton and placed in position wnicn VIII make him an economic asset.
 "Wiil you give him chance! "How the federal board for vocational education will help the disabled man: on dealing with the disabled man the federal board expects:
 .1 To treat him throughout as civilian needing advice and assistance. 70 TO advise with him as to choice or occupations. .s To train him to meet the needs of the occupation he has selected.
 A. To urge him to make the most of the opportunity offered to overcome ms handicap by taking thorough training ."5. To help him to secure desirable em- ployment
 "6. To keep in touch With nlm diter ne gees to work
 .sAll expenses involved in the framing, the support of the man while in trainlne and allowances for support Of ms de- pendents are provided"