Dear Honorable Legislator:
My name is Reinaldo Olavarria,
and I have been unemployed since 2010. I
have placed several applications in for employment, but, the last time I was
even called for an interview was about three months ago for a retail outlet
position. Prior to then, the last time I
was called for an interview was 2011. It
is not due to an absence of submitting application, or identifying myself as
disabled on government application. All
I know is the interviews I did get to go
on, it was clear by the expressions of interviewers, that a disabled
candidate for employment is not a viable option.
My peers are suffering the same
kind of fate. A majority of people,
teammates, on the wheelchair basketball team have similar tales of outright
discrimination or just not being able to find employment.
What I am asking then is for one
thing, the passing of affirmative action legislation to get the disabled
employment. Targeted legislation for
people with identified mobility impairments primarily. Why?
The last job I had was working for Durham County Social Services. I became unemployed because I resigned my position there after a
workplace accident. What happened? I was using my wheelchair while at the
workplace, and, they had a wheelchair accessible visitor entrance, but the
employee entrance had a step, and was not accessible for wheelchair users. Well, one day, while going down the step, my
chair flipped backwards, and I received a head injury, TBI, and, that caused me
to be out of work, and eventually lead to my resignation.
The employer was not accustomed
to having disabled employees. And, when
I requested the reasonable accommodation of just using the accessible visitor
entrance to enter the building, that was denied due to ignorance. I was told by a fellow employee that “because
of you they will not hire another disabled employee”. And, as far as I know, the last time I
visited, they sure enough have not hired another disabled employee.
What I am asking for is one of
two things. First, can you help to
change the laws, by enacting affirmative action legislation to ensure the
disabled, mobility impairment, get hired.
It is 2016, and, we should not be receiving a government check, but
should be employed and contributing to society.
What I ask is to open the doors
to employment, by enacting legislation that the government sector must set
aside and make an effort to employ people with disabilities with a target on
mobility impairments. I know they are
just not doing it by just going to any government building and/or service
center and looking for that “one disabled” employee. I have not seen “one” in a long time, and
have visited many service sites.
If you find it in your heart to
help by proposing and enacting legislation, of the affirmative action type, to
ensure that least in the government sector, the recruitment and employment of
the disabled is placed as a priority, and, to get “these people” off the
government rolls and into jobs.
I would rather work than be on
some check somewhere. To that end, I
have my college education, and many may say I am over qualified. What do I have? I have a masters in political science, and a
BA in sociology, and 2 years of law school, a few course and theology, and a
whole lot of professional education ad credits.
I “got my education” to work and equal the playing field, but have found
all the education in the world will not undue an employer seeing a wheelchair
and saying no, not qualified. Even if
you desire not to help with legislation, then can you help finding a job, or,
something else.
God Bless.
Reinaldo Olavarria
919-374-5129
614 Gaslight Trl
Wendell, NC 27591
Reyoadvocacy.org
Rolavarria012015@gmail.com
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