Hiring people with disabilities is less daunting than we think

York Chow Yat-ngok's appointment as the new head of the Equal Opportunities Commission should be a positive step for people with disabilities since he has a wealth of experience serving voluntary organisations that promote their rights. 

This, together with Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's proclamation in his policy address that people can only be truly integrated into their community through employment, should bode well  in terms of enabling people with disabilities to get equal access to employment. 

In theory, they have had  this right since Hong Kong became a signatory to  the 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  

But the reality is different. Many employers are daunted by the prospect of hiring people with disabilities. They are nervous about whether these potential employees can fulfil the requirements of the job, how they will interact with other employees, and  what changes may be needed  to the physical environment. In addition, people with disabilities often lack confidence to apply for jobs.

Pragmatic initiatives are therefore needed to educate both employers and potential employees with disabilities. That is why Community Business has initiated "Open to You", Hong Kong's first inclusive recruitment event that takes place today, to facilitate direct introductions between blue chip companies and a talent pool of university students with disabilities.

At a workshop for companies, one participant recounted how colleagues were concerned about hiring a man who uses a wheelchair, in case he found it difficult to get around. But she explained that, as he had represented Hong Kong in the Paralympics, this was unlikely to be a problem. She was right.