“Food, flowers, and filth”—just not true
October 20, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
My son Charlie is 11 and just started middle school. I think a lot about what he’ll do when he’s older; about what kind of job he might have and what kinds of supports will need to be in place to assist him. Today’s Birmingham News notes some of the challenges facing autistic adults seeking to enter and remain in the workforce. In order to qualify for community-based services under the Alabama Medicaid Agency, individuals with ASDs must currently also qualify with a diagnosis of mental retardation and, while some do, many do not.
The Birmingham News describes how a non-profit agency, Triumph Services, helps to fill in the gap. Two-thirds of Triumph’s 36 clients do not qualify for medicaid services, but still “struggle with life’s minor problems – how to get places on time, remembering to brush their teeth,” according to Triumph’s director, Brooke Stephens. She also notes:
“As this population was first being diagnosed, we used to say they would need fewer services as they matured, but that’s not true,” she said. Horizons places clients with a hand-picked list of employers. “We do that because we’re asking them for a significant personal commitment.”
Stephens said Triumph has helped 20 of its 36 clients find or keep jobs. Eleven were already working when the agency took over the UAB [University of Alabama-Birmingham] clients. They work in offices, rec centers, libraries, restaurants and retail, she said.
“There’s an old saying in the business that people with disabilities can only find jobs in `food, flowers and filth,’” she said. “It’s horrible. It’s a horrible thing to say, and not true.”
Not true.
Where do people get these ideas?
Oh, what an awful alliteration. I hope it isn’t true as my children age, but I do see where they’re not going to qualify if a mental retardation label is necessary for services. I hate the word “retardation,” though… but “disabled” could also mean “mental illness,” no?
I get all my labels mixed up, though I mean well.
The four Fs: Food, filth, filing and flowers, aka
hamburger flipping, janitorial work, clerical work, and landscaping.
Think about it when looking at transition or job placement services.
Now if someone chooses and wants those particular career areas, that is another matter because that’s choice–but I applaud the idea of looking at broader possibilities, more creative sampling and better use of specific talents and capabilities.
I work for an agency that provides vocational services for adults with disabilities. It’s true that traditionally the four F’s embodied the employment opportunities for folks with disabilities…. as did sheltered workshops. However, the industry is trending more toward self determination and choice, which I’m glad to see.
For my response to the debate the other night (and Dennis Leary) you can read my entry called “eventually” which I posted last Friday.
@Asthmagirl,
thanks for the link to your post:
http://www.asthmagirl.com/is_my_cape_fluttering/2008/10/eventually.html
and for what you note about changes in vocational possibilities for adults with disabilities.
This just made me think of the students who come to my classroom daily, and some, slightly less often, but at least once or twice a week, to do their jobs. There are 5 I can think of, whose jobs will have them stopping by, and they will have nothing to do with food, flowers, or filth. Now of course, those students who express interests in those areas aren’t denied those jobs.
I’m also sort of disappointed that we don’t still have the student who teaches sign language to the classes. Or rather, she is still a student, but she’s doing a different job now.
In reference to job-hunting for those with disabilities: volunteering can be a great first step.
The benefits to this are too numerous to list (that is, when it’s possible; for some, financial and time constraints can remove the option).
One benefit to volunteering: the time commitment tends to be small…two to three hours one day a week. It’s a way to try something new, without being thrown into a completely overwhelming schedule.
Additionally: taking a trial-and-error approach with jobs can be emotionally devastating. If someone is fired from a job, or is forced to quit due to the stress of it…that can really take a toll on a persons confidence. It can lead into “I can’t do this” thinking. With volunteering, it’s okay to say “This just isn’t working” and try something else. It lacks the heavy consequences of a job-change.
This, in turn, allows a person to refine their goals. You can volunteer and get a sense of: what am I good at? What am I not good at? It’s a way to take your strengths and weaknesses and test them in a relatively safe setting.
Other benefits: the tasks tend to be repetitive. You can learn a skill (or practice one) and not have to worry about huge changes in routine. This includes social skills. If you’re not good at interacting with people, but you would like to improve: there are plenty of volunteer options where you talk to others, interact, but in simple, low-impact ways. Again, it’s a good confidence building situation.
Because you’re not getting paid: staff tend to be overtly appreciative of volunteers. This creates a positive, supportive environment. With a regular job, you’re just expected to do the tasks because there’s a paycheck. It’s what you’re supposed to be doing. Volunteers, on the other hand, could be somewhere else. Staff tend to be aware of this and verbally grateful.
I forgot the obvious: volunteering helps others, so it’s fulfilling, no matter how small the tasks may seem (and if it’s fulfilling: confidence…yet again…ensues).
Numerous, numerous benefits, too many to name. And again, it’s just one way to sound out job options…a perfect place to begin.
I’ve learned this from personal experience. I did get fired from my first job…volunteered at a later time and learned a great deal from it.
My son is working at a Burger King, but he sees it the same way I did when I worked in a restaurant and went to school.
First, there is dignity in doing all of these things. The comment implies that this is for the lowly. I would not buy this applied to anyone.
Second, there are many jobs that are stepping stones to other things. The four f’s do not cover them all.
Third, even if it is the final stop, if it what a person is good at then what is wrong with it?
Fourth, I learned from these jobs and my son has learned from his first job as well.
So tell me, what is wrong with these jobs.
I think it might rather be said, there is a lot that is very right.
@Kristina,
So succinct and so true!