Mar 3, 2019 3 min read

This week, The Arc of Fayette County, Special Olympics and Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration plans to hold at the courthouse in Uniontown a program that will advocate for the respect and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities.

The campaign, “Spread the Word: Inclusion,” seeks to draw attention from the county’s notables as well as citizens pledging through signatures on a banner their promise to treat everyone equally and bring awareness to those with disabilities.

We recognize the significant contributions that those with any type of disability have made, and will continue to make, in our local economies. We are happy to see this kind of advocacy through many events that have recently taken place in our area for those with all types of disabilities.

Last week, Seven Springs Mountain Resort hosted folks through the Wounded Warrior Patrol, a volunteer organization that works to support the recovery and family bonding of Wounded Warriors as well as their spouses, caregivers and children through recreational therapy of snow sports and other outdoor recreational activities.

Through the event, 14 families, some of whom were from as far away as New Mexico, were able to experience the beauty of our Laurel Highlands while participating in something that will help them heal, not just physically, but emotionally together with their families.

It is heartwarming to see local folks who are taking the time to bring awareness of the needs of those with disabilities and actively doing something to help.

And late last week, The Associated Press reported that Walmart’s CEO Greg Foran addressed store managers that they are “taking some specific steps to support” greeters with disabilities, following an earlier decision by the giant retailer to eliminate greeter positions in many of their stores. Walmart officials said those positions would be expanded into “customer host” roles, which would involve more than welcoming customers including lifting heavy weights, climbing ladders and do other tasks.

When the decision came, disabled workers, many of whom fill the jobs as greeters, accused Walmart of targeting them because their disabilities may prevent them for carrying out the new roles. But according to the Associated Press, late last week Foran said the company would make “every effort” to find other roles for those workers.

“In terms of the associates with disabilities who are transitioning out of the People Greeter position, we recognize these people face a unique situation. And because not all disabilities are the same, each case requires a thoughtful solution,” Foran was quoted as saying in the Associated Press article.”For that reason, we are looking into each one on an individual basis with the goal of offering appropriate accommodations that will enable these associates to continue in other roles with their store.”

While it is unfortunate that company officials did not recognize the need for some workers before they announced a change in job duties, we are certainly glad to see the community rally behind the workers and remind those officials that we must all work together to spread the word “inclusion.”