The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1948-10-07

This is National Employ The
Physically Handicapped Week, and
during the week employers are be-
ing urged to employ persons with
disabilities, on the grounds that sit
is good business to hire the handi-
capped"
Each year thousands of people in
Maryland face employment difficult
ties because of disabilities resulting
from accident, disease or congenital
handicaps. Many of them succeed
in finding employment, largely
through the assistance of such
agencies as the Veterans Admin
istration, the Maryland State EN-
ployment Service and the Vocation
al Rehabilitation Service. The lat
ter is a division of the State De-
partment of Education, and since
1929 it has been preparing the dis
abled for placement in gainful en-
ployment.
At the end of the fiscal year, June
80, 1948, the Vocational Rehibilita-
ton Service throughout the state re-
ported that 4,287 disabled persons
were handled through that office.
Three hundred and sixty disabled
persons were residents of Frederick
and Washington Counties, and of
this number As were prepared for
their placement in gainful employ
ment, while another 100 received
vocational advice, help in physical
restoration, or training that would
make them available for employ
ment.
For several years past the re-
Mobilization division in Washington
County has placed an average of
thirty persons with major employ
ment handicaps in jobs. Here are
a few typical cases handled by the
Washington County office:
One young man was limited in
his employment opportunities by re-
stricted vision which forced him to
accept temporary seasonal work.
Married and with two dependent
children, his income was inadequate
to meet his needs. A study was
made of his problem and a job OBJ
jective established After obtain
ing proper glasses he was placed as
an attendant at one of the nearby
state hospitals. According to recent
reports he continues to be a good
worker. In addition, he has job
security. ~
In another instance, there is the
farm laborer who lost a hand in a
farm accident. Investigation proved
that an artificial arm and hook, in
many respects, would enable this
man to perform his farm duties with
his former efficiency. He was fitted
with the appliance, thereby keeping
family man among the lists of the
employed.
A young county girl, a scholastic
leader in her high school, has been
badly crippled since infancy. Her
interests and abilities pointed tow
ards the clerical field She was
trained as a bookkeeper in one of the
local business colleges. Placed sew
eral years ago with one of the lead
ing firms in Hagerstown, her en-
ployer is outspoken in his praise of
her work. Without training and
special placement, it is doubtful if
she ever would have been self-sup-
porting.
Finally, we have the story of the
Hagerstown boy who had a long
struggle in finishing his public
school courses because of his battle
to overcome the effects of polio.
His ambition was to be a banker
After training in accountancy, pro-
gram of contact making with local
and distant banks was developed.
He succeeded in getting his own job
with one of the leading banks in the
country, located in Washington, D.
c. He is still with the same employ
er and is happy in the realization of
his ambition. Correspondence from
the employer indicates the regard
in which he is held.
The Vocational Rehabilitation
Service, in asking the support of en-
ployers in placing the physically
handicapped in jobs, points out that
it is good business for employers to
hire them after they have been
properly prepared for specific fields
of work, and the rehabilitation serv-
ice chiefly concerns itself with the
preparation of these people for en-