Helping people succeed

Employers need to focus on what a person with a disability can do, rather than what they can't do. This was the approach taken when Sherring Gold Jewellers hired Tim Soloshy as an apprentice Goldsmith in 1999. Tim is hearing impaired and has Cerebral Palsy.

Today, Tim has become an essential member of their staff. He is solely in charge of the trophy department and can be relied upon to be responsible for undertaking all jewellery repairs and resizing. Bryce Sherring, owner of Sherring Gold, understood there may be some barriers that would need to be overcome when hiring Tim but remained confident that there was always a workable solution.

Bryce readily shares his experiences with other employers and dispels myths and misconceptions about hiring someone with a disability. He promotes the integration into the workforce of individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of not making assumptions about someone's abilities or impacts on the workplace.

There is a perception that people with disabilities can only fill entry-level positions. The belief is that people with disabilities do not have the knowledge or experience required for more skilled roles. Data shows this is clearly not the case. In 2006, 74.6% of working age (25 to 64) adults with disabilities had a high school diploma or higher educational certification.