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Inclusion in an Unexpected Way By: Gina Ellis-Strother, Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission As Park and Recreation organizations focus on creating a more inclusive visitor experience, they should consider ways to expand inclusion in their workforce. Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission (CCPRC) has found some success hiring staff with cognitive disabilities like autism. Individuals with autism range from those who may not be able to independently care for themselves to those with higher functioning cognitive abilities. Many high school graduates with autism have a difficult time finding employment. According to a 2018 article on SpectrumNews.org, one out of five adults with autism are unemployed. Cynthia Wilson, Beach Park Manager at Isle of Palms County Park, took an interest in finding employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Joey Sherman, a 24-year-old with autism, was hired by Cynthia three years ago as a Park Aid. During his interview, Cynthia eventually realized there was a disability, so she immediately altered the interview format by showing Joey some of the tasks he would be doing to see how he would respond. One task was using a drill to create holes in the sand for umbrellas. Once Joey showed he could do that, Cynthia was confident in his ability to do other tasks and hired him for the summer. Joey loves working at Isle of Palms, saying, “My favorite thing is handing out ice cream and drinks to customers.” Managers looking to hire someone with autism can contact high schools and colleges with programs for students with disabilities. The College of Charleston’s REACH Program has been nationally recognized for its commitment to full-inclusion and self-determination for people with disabilities. Once hired, Cynthia suggests training new employees individually step by step on exactly how to do something, since retraining can be challenging. Also, educating other staff on the best way to work with and support this individual is very important. Before most were thinking about inclusion in the workplace, Cynthia was doing it with great success. Her decision to hire Joey was a good one. She described him as having an amazing attitude, being very friendly with customers and a hard worker. He approached every assignment with great enthusiasm, from cleaning bathrooms to picking up trash on the beach. In 2019, Joey’s hard work paid off when he was awarded Employee of the Year by the park staff. Inclusion in the workplace not only opens doors for the employee, but opens doors for organizations interested in creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
Managers looking to hire someone with autism can contact high schools and colleges with programs for students with disabilities. The College of Charleston’s REACH Program has been nationally recognized for its commitment to full-inclusion and selfdetermination for people with disabilities. 66 SOUTH SOUTH CAROLINA CAROLINA Recreation Recreation and and Parks Parks • •www.scrpa.org 24 SOUTH CAROLINA Recreation and Parks •www.scrpa.org www.scrpa.org
