Employers urged to hire candidates with Down's Syndrome
20-03-2007
UK employers are being encouraged to hire candidates with Down's Syndrome as part of a new campaign by the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA).
The DSA is sending an application form, CV and covering letter in the guise of an applicant with Down's Syndrome to businesses throughout the country, personneltoday.com reports.
Employers are informed that the applicant has Down's Syndrome and "disabled" is repeatedly used in each document, replacing the career overview, qualifications and work experience.
Carol Boys, chief executive of the DSA, said that because people with Down's Syndrome are "easily identifiable" they tend to suffer most from discrimination, mainly due to employers being afraid of the unknown and lacking awareness.
Ms Boys commented: "Their expectations of some kind of employment are high and so it makes it all the more depressing when they are not able to find a job.
"The DSA is asking employers to 'look behind the label' and see the potential of a person with Down's Syndrome."
According to the DSA, just 16 per cent of the UK's 15,000 working-age adults with Down's Syndrome are in some form of employment, which for the most part is voluntary and unpaid.
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