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September 12, 2008
Disneyland work is just magic for disabled-Hong Kong
The following information was downloaded from the mailing list of "Disability and Development" with a cooperation of the publisher, Mr. Soya Mori.
Nickkita Lau
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hong Kong Disneyland has worked its magic on disabled employees Jenny Lam Man-shan and Chloe Liu Lai-to by restoring their confidence and putting smiles back on their faces. Lam and Liu joined the park's first apprentice program for the disabled in June last year, and since then have waved goodbye to the unhappy drudgery of working for fast-food chains.
Liu, 25, who has Down syndrome, works in the staff restaurant after graduating from a nine-month apprenticeship.
Now she enjoys her work, a far cry from being yelled at by her previous boss.
"I'm always in a good mood. I get to meet so many people and make so many friends."
Fellow apprentice Lam, 23, has a septal defect - a hole in the partition separating the left and right sides of the heart - and used to see the doctor every month.
But after the tonic of working at the park she now sees the doctor only once a year.
Secondary Four-educated Lam said she did not think the park would hire her when she was referred by the charity Caritas.
She now works four days a week at Fantasyland. Director of staffing and human resources Greg Morley said the park has been hiring the disabled on an ad hoc basis since opening three years
ago for tasks that include making calls and packing.
In 2006, the park hired 80 disabled people through regular recruitment.
Last year, the park began recruiting by referral and so far 15 people have been employed through the scheme.
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=71630&sid=20554639&con_type=1
Posted by jicafriends at September 12, 2008 03:17 PM