"Disability is a natural part of human life and does not diminish the right of people with disabilities to take their rightful place in the world of work. Widespread ignorance, fear and stereotypes cause people with disabilities to be unfairly discriminated against in society and employment. As a result, people with disabilities experience high unemployment levels and, in the workplace, often remain in low status jobs and earn lower than average remuneration." The Employment Equity Act
The Department of Labour says only 0.3% of Professionals in the South African Workforce are people with disabilities. AGA has taken personal responsibility to challenge the norms, break barriers and ensure inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the South African Workforce. 3% of AGA’s placements have been PWD’s.
AGA Recruitment Specialists in association with Hein Wagner of VisionTree, have amalgamated their skills and energies to address this imbalance and promote Persons with Disabilities in the workplace. Ashley Gregory has displayed a passion for the upliftment of disadvantaged and disabled individuals. Ashley has contributed to various endeavours in recruiting people with disabilities and effectively introducing them into the corporate workplace.
Hein Wagner: Hein was born blind. Through a life of darkness, Hein has displayed great vision and achieved abundantly. Prior to founding VisionTree Hein was employed as an International Sales Manager at Thawte Consulting, the multi-million Rand IT company Mark Shuttleworth sold to VeriSign in 2000. Hein developed a passion for motivating people and inspiring them to recognise and exploit their true potential in spite of their limitations. He has also advised a number of corporate organisations on technological applications for people with disabilities. VisionTree focuses on Motivational Speaking, Performance and Entertainment. Together, AGA and VisionTree are successfully recruiting Disabled Professionals for Executive positions within the Top 100 Companies. Hein also provides technological audits for disabled individuals within the workplace. www.visiontree.co.za
AGA Disability Division is committed to promoting the upliftment of disabled professionals and effectively placing them in Executive positions within various corporate organisations.
TIPS
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Ensure your Employment Equity plan makes provision for people with disabilities
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Identify and eliminate barriers that hinder the advancement of people with disabilities
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Include people with disabilities on your Employment Equity Committee
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Ensure that your buildings and facilities are disability compliant
Human Capital Management 2004/5 (Edition 2), WriteStuff Publishing cc
