Disabled workers cause complaints from some

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There have been recent complaints from some residents in the Towers about dining service employees.
Dining Services General Manager Paul Kramer said most of the complaints received about the disabled dining service employees come are from freshmen at Carey Dining Commons.
Physically and mentally disabled adults help wipe tables and clean up after the diners. But some students complain that they are “scary,” slow and shouldn’t be working there.
Mid-Michigan Industries, 2426 Parkway Drive, trains and sends out the groups of disable persons with trained job coaches.
Matt Miller, Marketing director for MMI, said the handicapped adults that work for CMU are good workers.
“These people are dedicated and get the job done and they really belong to the team. They really enjoy the interaction with the students.”
Miller said he thinks the reason why Towers residents are reacting the way they are is because it might be an education issue.
Some new students may not have been exposed to people with disabilities before and they are having a hard time accepting them, he said.
He also noted that there has never been any problems in the past with the disabled workers, and that the contract of the workers has actually been extended.
Kramer said even with the workers, the dining commons at Central are top of the line.
“The CMU Dining Commons was named employer of the year by Mid-Michigan Industries,” he said.
Kramer also said the disabled workers are very positive and actually befriend some of the students.
“When we’re talking diversity, we need to go beyond different ethnic backgrounds and deal with all kinds of people,” Kramer said.
Assistant Professor of recreation, parks and leisure Bob Frost, is the adviser for majors in therapeutic recreation who spoke extensively about the positive effects on the disabled workers and their employer.
“Typically, special populations have fewer avenues to pursue, which include making money, having a job and feeling good about themselves,” Frost said.
“The fear of the handicapped comes out of lack of knowledge about understanding and seeing someone with a disability as something different than we are. These people are personally and socially valuable to everyone involved, and it is the law that people with disabilities may have a job.”
Carey, Robinson and Woldt Dining Commons along with the Down Under Food Court in the lower level of the Bovee University Center, have workers with disabilities.
Robinson Dining Commons has students who know the workers names and talk to them. The same is happening at Woldt Dining Commons and the Down Under Food Court. The only problems reported are from students at Carey Dining Commons.
One student from Carey Dining Commons, who wished to remain anonymous, said he has a problem with the disabled workers.
“I’m not trying to be mean but (handicapped workers) are scary and they’re slow.”
Judy Nagy, a five-year ARAMARK employee, said the workers do not cause a problem.
“They do a pretty good job. You’re always going to have people who don’t like it, but they have to put themselves in their position,” she said. “By the grace of God, we could all be there. These people love their jobs.”
Becky Hembree, specialist clerk in Receivable Accounting, said she has visited the Down Under Food Court since 1996.
“Everyone needs to feel like they are accomplishing something,” she said.
Hembree said she has never seen a problem with any of the disabled employees.
Karen Coutts, senior specialist clerk for the Financial Aid Office, has worked at CMU since 1985, and said she “has never seen the handicapped employees do a bad job.”
Amanda Hohf, Warren freshman, said she has no problem with the workers.
“They say ‘hi’ and are polite. They are always doing their work,” she said.
Katherine Curtiss, Port Huron freshman, said working for CMU is a good opportunity for the disabled workers.
“It is a great way to get them out into the world interacting and developing social skills.”