Audrey Booth is
the Sales and Marketing Administrator for Richmond's Landmark Theatre. During the summer,
a local supported employment agency contacted Ms. Booth. At the time, she did
not have any hiring needs. In December, she was in need of help. She called the agency and
told them that she was in need of someone to fill a ticket taker position.
The job duties
included answering customer questions, taking and tearing tickets, and directing customers
to the proper location. Within a matter of hours, an application had been completed and
delivered to Ms. Booth's desk. Ms. Booth interviewed and hired the young lady that had been referred by the supported
employment agency. "My main concern was how the general public would perceive her.
People can be cruel. I knew she could do the job, I wasn't ever concerned about
that," states Ms. Booth. This month marked the employee's six-month anniversary.
"She has a lot of support here and she is well received by her coworkers and the
customers." Ms. Booth suggested that if other businesses are thinking of hiring
someone with a disability that they should give it a try. "Everybody needs a fair
chance. We are all human. Today or tomorrow I could be disabled and I would hope that
someone would give me a chance" stated Ms. Booth. |