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A Guidance Service For Disabled Workers

Creator: Ruth J. Mayer (author)
Date: June 1942
Publication: The Crippled Child
Publisher: National Society for Crippled Children of the United States of America
Source: National Library of Medicine, General Collection

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THE FIRST class recommended by V. G. S. was made up of men with no machine experience, selected in terms of general ability to learn, measured dexterity and measured preference for machine work. The partners were so well satisfied with the performance of the first group that they determined to hire only men recommended by V. G. S. for inplant training.

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As able-bodied men became increasingly hard to find, it was agreed that handicapped men be referred. These men were given every opportunity to perform a satisfactory job; they proved to the complete satisfaction of the partners that they could work on an even basis with able-bodied men when given work within their limitations.

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It was to this plant that John was referred. He was given a stool of the correct height to bring him within easy reach of his machine. The instructions given him were clear-cut and he had no difficulty in remembering them. When he began processing parts, he soon reached a production level that equaled that of anyone in the plant. After he had been working at the plant for a month, he returned to his counselor to express his satisfaction with his newly acquired skills. The plant owners were equally satisfied. Men like John have enabled Mr. Castner to say that after the war he intends to keep the present high percentage of handicapped men on his payroll.

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One man and one plant as an example of utilization of the handicapped worker! We had hoped for space in which to review other cases. We thought of the man so crippled with arthritis that when we visited the plant where he was placed, we found him sitting on a low wheeled platform which he pulled around with his hands to reach the stock which he was polishing; and of another man who had lost both legs in a railroad accident, and who was now doing an intricate bench assembly job in an instrument plant. Several such outstanding cases are in our files. But one case will serve to illustrate many. And the one plant that we have described will show that handicapped men can be used to excellent advantage in industry.

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AS WE were writing this last paragraph, Mr.Castner called us to discuss a spastic who had been referred to him, a young man of twenty- three. The man will be given his chance at the C. & S. Tool Co. He spoiled the first piece he was given to machine and the foreman wondered whether he should go on with the training. Mr. Castner said, "I told him, when you want to work with handicapped people, you don't give up with the first sign of difficulty. If an employer is willing to make adjustments, the adjustments he must make are small because the men have already adapted themselves to their handicaps. They need only a fair chance to prove themselves equal to able-bodied in selected operations."

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And this plant goes on making its "small" adjustments, providing stools for those who can't stand, platforms to put the machines within reach of men without legs, assigning one-armed men to punch presses, filling its contracts ahead of schedule because its owners have the insight to see that the handicapped man in a job that suits his aptitudes and abilities is no longer handicapped.

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THE PRESENT manpower shortage has given these men their chance. It is for you who work with crippled people from babyhood to ensure that these gains that have come during this period of our country's emergency shall not be lost. Publicity is needed for the production records of handicapped men and women for their success in operating various kinds of machines, for results of studies which have shown that absenteeism is less frequent. Insofar as is possible, these men and women have proved their worth to industry, should retain their places. Young people with physical disabilities should be given their chance. Are you willing as individuals or organizations to investigate participation of the handicapped in the war effort and work for means to ensure successful adult placement of your crippled children?

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