On the week of February 19, 2015 I took the liberty to attend the Dallas Abilities Job Expo, at the Hyatt Regencies suites. The event was advertised as a huge gathering of more than 100 employers looking to meet qualified job candidates who had a disability, as well as the opportunity to network with other people who shared similar experiences within the Dallas, TX, area. Once I arrived at the event I made my way through the corridor after signing in. I expected to see a complementary amount of companies looking to participate in the event as advertised but found less otherwise. I did not find any companies within the non-for profit sector there at the time, which is my particular field of study and interest. Also, I did not see many individuals using assistive-technology like a walker or wheel-chair other than myself during my brief visit. Although the job scene at the expo looked bleak with very few employer participants I decided to stay and make rounds to see  what other employment opportunities were being offered at the time and by which companies. This took just about a solid half-hour and that was mostly from me talking extensively to the company’s representatives who gave excellent job leads pertaining to the positions which they were hiring for at the time of the expo.

I applaud the efforts of the event coordinator and companies who participated in the Dallas ability Job Expo, it was very well organized and crafted to present a welcoming atmosphere especially for individuals such as myself who use a wheelchair or walker. My only regret is that more companies would have partake in such events and help to open up more opportunity for the disabled. Being considered handicapped does not mean we do  not have anything to offer towards a company’s growth and development. Sadly to say this lack of participation on the part of companies seem to be a reoccurring theme at a lot of these type of job expos for the disabled.  I’m not sure who or what is the blame in terms of prejudice or discrimination on the part of company’s officers or human resource department but I am sure that bringing more awareness to the situation is the key to changing the lack of employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

-James C.