Looking to make life, work better for the disabled

MOSES LAKE — A group of health care providers, social service professionals, employment specialists and parents gathered Thursday evening to discuss the challenges those with disabilities have living and working in Moses Lake.

The meeting, organized by the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment, was the first in Moses Lake in several years, and sought to bring people together to help foster “equality of opportunity and maximize independence,” according to meeting facilitator and committee member Lisa Rosier.

Participants expressed concerns about the lack of mental health care in Grant County — especially in emergency situations — problems with transportation, and a difficulty preparing disabled high school students for their transition to work or further education after graduation.

But they also talked about ways of encouraging employers to hire the disabled.

“How to make employers more welcoming in Moses Lake? That’s the problem here,” said Dora Gomez, an employment specialist with Goodwill Industries in Moses Lake.

Dawn Miller, the employment connections coordinator with Grant Mental Health, said the key to helping people with disabilities find employment is building solid and longstanding relationships with employers.

“You need to build a relationship so that an employer trusts you to do the right thing for them. You have to follow through and be there to support them and the employee,” Miller said. “Don’t sell a disability. Say, ‘we have a good employee for you’.”

Rosier, drawing from the experience of a West Side community, suggested that employers who have had good experiences form an advisory committee — “like the Rotary” — to advise and support other companies seeking to hire employees with disabilities.

Jennifer Newhouse, the parent-to-parent coordinator for The Arc — an organization that assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — said her adult daughter’s greatest problem is a bus system with very limited hours and the lack of professional care in Moses Lake.

“There are not enough residential care providers,” Newhouse said. “She’s in fear of being moved to Spokane instead of staying in her own home.”

There are services available and grants to pay for those services, Newhouse added, but there are simply not enough people to take the jobs.

“The level of care is poorly compensated. There are long hours and low pay,” Newhouse said.

Finally, participants were told about the Youth Leadership Forum, a week-long summer camp in July for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities where they learn leadership skills, what to expect in college and how to succeed in the work world.

The camp, which is free to qualifying Washington state high school students, is paid for in part by fines levied on those who park illegally in handicapped parking spaces.

“This is a great opportunity for students to be among other students with disabilities and make lasting friendships,” Rosier said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.