October 11, 2024 • 12 mins
Speaking with Darelyn Pazdel, VP of Workforce Inclusion at PRIDE Industries, about National Disabilites Awareness Month and how they help those with disabilities in Arkansas find employment and transportation to and from their potential careers. We also discuss how area businesses can benefit from greater inclusivity from some of these amazing Arkansans. If you are a business that would like to find out more, or if you are a person with disabilities that would like to find out more about job placement, visit https://www.prideindustries.com/
If you have a topic, event, charity, civic group, or non-profit and would like to be a part of the show, please email djtaylor@iheartmedia.com with your information.
If you have a topic, event, charity, civic group, or non-profit and would like to be a part of the show, please email djtaylor@iheartmedia.com with your information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome and thanks for tuning in for Talk of the
Rock public affairs, community events, and public services for Central
Arkansas from the iHeartRadio Studios in Little Rock. Here's your host, DJ.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Taylor, and thank you for joining us for Talking the Rock.
I'm DJ Taylor and I'm joined on phone by Miss
Darylyn Pasdel. She's the VP of Workforce Inclusion at Pride Industries.
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Today, I'm excellent, Taylor. Thank you for having.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Me, absolutely glad to do it. You know, it is
National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Pride Industries does a
lot to help listeners here in our area and around
the country. For those that may not be familiar, give
us some history, a little more detailed explanation. What is
Pride Industries?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
What do you do? I'd love to Our mission is
simple and it's been the same mission for nearly six decades,
and that's to create employment for people with disabilities. We
actually have our very humble beginnings from Auburn in California,
a little town and the foothills just on your way
to the Tahoe area. It was founded in the basement
(01:08):
of a church in nineteen sixty six by a group
of parents whose students graduated from high school at disabilities
and had an extremely difficult time securing employment. So they
brought work in to the basement of this church so
that they could earn a paycheck. That's evolved today where
(01:30):
we are in fifteen states plus Washington, DC, Pride Industries
employees nearly four thousand employees, and I'm proud to say
about fifty percent of them are persons with disabilities.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Well, now for those that I mean, let's let's talk
about the term disability because that covers a lot of people.
How unique, how varied of a workforce are the Pride
Industry's employees.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I would go out on a limit and say that
every single person is unique, know to individuals or a life,
just like someone who doesn't identify with the disability. They
each have a set of skills to offer. However, and
the ones that are looking for work really are an
asset to employers. They see things through a lens of
(02:19):
what they can do, as opposed to limiting talk of
what they cannot do. And I'll tell you Taylor, people
disabilities tend to be excellent problem solvers.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Oh sure, Yeah, there's all levels of adversity and different
things that they have to think through or like you said,
look at through a different lens to make things work,
and that gives a whole new set of problem solving
skills available. What are some of the misconceptions surrounding hiring
(02:51):
somebody with a disability? I know that there are a
lot of people that maybe just don't quite they don't
look at it in the same perspective. What are some
of the things that you come up against with these folks.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So, employers are often fearful of hiring a person's disability
because they have a concept that accommodations are extremely expensive,
so they figure if they hire a person who needs accommodations,
it'll cost them money and change their bottom line. But
in fact that's not true. Studies have shown that most
(03:27):
individuals require very minimal accommodation, maybe a light change or
a chair change, and those who do require accommodations, it's
typically about a five hundred dollars one time cost, so
eliminating the fear of the finances. But then they also
worry about communicating. You know, how do I communicate with
(03:49):
a person of the disability. And when we help someone
find a job, we work with employers, we offer training,
to help them understand the unique communication skills of a person.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Well, now, when you talk about different things that might
need to be adjusted slightly to help out with someone
with a disability, what are some of those challenges that
people with disabilities face.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
The first challenge is just being able to be given
the opportunity to be face to face with an employer.
Often on paper, people are passed up. Through telephone and
email communication, they're passed up. So the first challenge is
being able to sit with someone and share their skills,
just being able to open up and communicate I mentioned
(04:35):
earlier communication. The second challenge is being able to sell
their skills, and then I will say nationwide, the next
largest challenge becomes transportation. So when we have an employer
willing to hire, then we work with individuals to secure transportation.
Many remote areas have the opportunities and it's up to
(04:58):
us to navigate trans insportations for them. Once they're hired,
they'll be your most loyal employees. They want to work,
so their absenteeism is minimal.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Absolutely, and I think that's amazing that Pride Industries does
so much to help the disabled community. I mean anything
from helping to find employment to even getting transportation to
and from It's absolutely incredible. I know there's got to be.
I mean, so many different facets to what Pride Industries does.
(05:32):
What are your different lines of business?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
So we're the employer record in three different areas. They're
locally for you. We have Department of Defense contracts where
we employ people's disabilities. We have a commercial line of
business in California where we provide services to our local community.
And then we also have our very own logistics, manufacturing
(05:59):
and electronic services in California.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
So a lot of different ways that folks with disabilities
can benefit. And tell me a little bit more about that.
As far as say an employer or somebody that is
looking to hire, what would, as someone from Pride Industry say,
is a definite benefit to their workforce being inclusive like that?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yeah, again, the reliability employees with disabilities, once they're given
the opportunity to shine, they're very loyal and studies have
shown that they can increase the culture of teamwork when
inclusion of people disabilities is achieved in the workforce. They also,
(06:46):
i mentioned earlier, are great problem solvers and they have
a unique way sometimes of looking at a situation from
a completely different angle, thereby increasing productivity in some areas.
I've even read one and study recently where revenue increases
with the inclusion of people disabilities in the workforce.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well as much as you do for people with disabilities
to find employment and to help them in their journey
of employment. How could somebody find out more about being
a part of your workforce or being a part of
Pride Industries. What would someone need to do?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
So? We have a very robust website and it's very
easy to remember Pride Industries dot com. But we also
have a very unique I am able hotline designed uniquely
for people's disabilities who are seeking services and employment, and
it's kind of catchy. It's an eight four to four
I am able or eight four four four two six
(07:55):
two two five three, and someone can call that number
and be guided maybe to their state where they're living geographically,
or services or just information on how to become employed.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And super easy way to find different jobs that are
available and potentially to pick amongst so many great positions there.
What about businesses, how can they find out more about
hiring people with disabilities?
Speaker 3 (08:25):
We make it so easy tailor they can use the
same two tools our website and or that a four
four number.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
All right, so absolutely fantastic, super easy to get it done.
And then, of course, companies hiring people with disabilities and
enjoying what I would consider to be a very diverse
and very inclusive workforce, it means a lot, not just
to the company, but also to the co workers, like
(08:54):
you were saying, to create this diversity and to experience
a much i would say, broader view of the workplace.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Now, if somebody wanted to be a part of Pride Industries,
or if a business is looking to become more inclusive,
is there anything that they need to do specifically other
than to just reach out or how does that typically work?
Speaker 3 (09:22):
No, they can definitely just reach out to us. We
have a team in place to help not only the
employer partners the people looking for applicants, but to match
the applicants with them, and we provide supports that can
include training. Oftentimes people disabilities, it takes a little bit
longer as steeper training curves, so we can help the
(09:45):
employer with that time and cost. Once they learn it,
they very seldom forget it. But we're here to help
both sides. We want this to be a perfect match.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That is fantastic. It is National Disability and Deployment Awareness
Month for the month of October, and you know, it
is fantastic to know that Pride Industries is there and available.
Whether you're an employer that is looking for workers, or
if you're someone in the community, maybe you're you're facing
a disability, you're also looking to become a member of
(10:19):
the workforce, or maybe you're looking for a new career.
Absolutely a fantastic way to pair up businesses and workforce.
One more time. The web address and the phone.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Number Pride Industries dot com and our hotline is eight
four four four two six two two five three.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
And it wouldn't it wouldn't be right of me to
not ask this question while I've got you on the line,
because I know there have been all kinds of companies
that have received help from Pride Industries to be paired
up with these employees. What are what are the companies
saying about this? For those that may be a naysayer
in the back somewhere, what are some of the companies
(11:07):
saying about the employees that they're matched with from Pride Industries.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
We've partnered with quite a few Native American casinos in
the California area, and I think my favorite quote is
from Red Hawk Casino where they said they were skeptical
and now their crew is a part of their enployment
plans and that their casino has never looked better or
(11:35):
felt better with regard to inclusion. I love them.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
That is absolutely fantastic. I love that. I love hearing
the good stories there. And of course, you know, this
is something that if you're a business owner here locally,
you definitely should look at and get in touch with
Pride Industries. Or if you're someone with a disability that
really wants to be a part of the workforce, there
is a way to find that employment that's best suited
(11:59):
for you. Darylyn, thank you so much for calling in
today and sharing with us on National Disability Employment Awareness
Month about what Pride Industries does and how they can help.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Taylor, Thanks for listening to Talk of the Rock public
affairs and community events from the iHeartRadio studios in Little Rock.
Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and listen next
week as we talk to more guests about public service,
local charities, and events going on in your neighborhood.
Welcome and thanks for tuning in for Talk of the
Rock public affairs, community events, and public services for Central
Arkansas from the iHeartRadio Studios in Little Rock. Here's your host, DJ.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Taylor, and thank you for joining us for Talking the Rock.
I'm DJ Taylor and I'm joined on phone by Miss
Darylyn Pasdel. She's the VP of Workforce Inclusion at Pride Industries.
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Today, I'm excellent, Taylor. Thank you for having.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Me, absolutely glad to do it. You know, it is
National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Pride Industries does a
lot to help listeners here in our area and around
the country. For those that may not be familiar, give
us some history, a little more detailed explanation. What is
Pride Industries?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
What do you do? I'd love to Our mission is
simple and it's been the same mission for nearly six decades,
and that's to create employment for people with disabilities. We
actually have our very humble beginnings from Auburn in California,
a little town and the foothills just on your way
to the Tahoe area. It was founded in the basement
(01:08):
of a church in nineteen sixty six by a group
of parents whose students graduated from high school at disabilities
and had an extremely difficult time securing employment. So they
brought work in to the basement of this church so
that they could earn a paycheck. That's evolved today where
(01:30):
we are in fifteen states plus Washington, DC, Pride Industries
employees nearly four thousand employees, and I'm proud to say
about fifty percent of them are persons with disabilities.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Well, now for those that I mean, let's let's talk
about the term disability because that covers a lot of people.
How unique, how varied of a workforce are the Pride
Industry's employees.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I would go out on a limit and say that
every single person is unique, know to individuals or a life,
just like someone who doesn't identify with the disability. They
each have a set of skills to offer. However, and
the ones that are looking for work really are an
asset to employers. They see things through a lens of
(02:19):
what they can do, as opposed to limiting talk of
what they cannot do. And I'll tell you Taylor, people
disabilities tend to be excellent problem solvers.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Oh sure, Yeah, there's all levels of adversity and different
things that they have to think through or like you said,
look at through a different lens to make things work,
and that gives a whole new set of problem solving
skills available. What are some of the misconceptions surrounding hiring
(02:51):
somebody with a disability? I know that there are a
lot of people that maybe just don't quite they don't
look at it in the same perspective. What are some
of the things that you come up against with these folks.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
So, employers are often fearful of hiring a person's disability
because they have a concept that accommodations are extremely expensive,
so they figure if they hire a person who needs accommodations,
it'll cost them money and change their bottom line. But
in fact that's not true. Studies have shown that most
(03:27):
individuals require very minimal accommodation, maybe a light change or
a chair change, and those who do require accommodations, it's
typically about a five hundred dollars one time cost, so
eliminating the fear of the finances. But then they also
worry about communicating. You know, how do I communicate with
(03:49):
a person of the disability. And when we help someone
find a job, we work with employers, we offer training,
to help them understand the unique communication skills of a person.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Well, now, when you talk about different things that might
need to be adjusted slightly to help out with someone
with a disability, what are some of those challenges that
people with disabilities face.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
The first challenge is just being able to be given
the opportunity to be face to face with an employer.
Often on paper, people are passed up. Through telephone and
email communication, they're passed up. So the first challenge is
being able to sit with someone and share their skills,
just being able to open up and communicate I mentioned
(04:35):
earlier communication. The second challenge is being able to sell
their skills, and then I will say nationwide, the next
largest challenge becomes transportation. So when we have an employer
willing to hire, then we work with individuals to secure transportation.
Many remote areas have the opportunities and it's up to
(04:58):
us to navigate trans insportations for them. Once they're hired,
they'll be your most loyal employees. They want to work,
so their absenteeism is minimal.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Absolutely, and I think that's amazing that Pride Industries does
so much to help the disabled community. I mean anything
from helping to find employment to even getting transportation to
and from It's absolutely incredible. I know there's got to be.
I mean, so many different facets to what Pride Industries does.
(05:32):
What are your different lines of business?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
So we're the employer record in three different areas. They're
locally for you. We have Department of Defense contracts where
we employ people's disabilities. We have a commercial line of
business in California where we provide services to our local community.
And then we also have our very own logistics, manufacturing
(05:59):
and electronic services in California.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
So a lot of different ways that folks with disabilities
can benefit. And tell me a little bit more about that.
As far as say an employer or somebody that is
looking to hire, what would, as someone from Pride Industry say,
is a definite benefit to their workforce being inclusive like that?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yeah, again, the reliability employees with disabilities, once they're given
the opportunity to shine, they're very loyal and studies have
shown that they can increase the culture of teamwork when
inclusion of people disabilities is achieved in the workforce. They also,
(06:46):
i mentioned earlier, are great problem solvers and they have
a unique way sometimes of looking at a situation from
a completely different angle, thereby increasing productivity in some areas.
I've even read one and study recently where revenue increases
with the inclusion of people disabilities in the workforce.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well as much as you do for people with disabilities
to find employment and to help them in their journey
of employment. How could somebody find out more about being
a part of your workforce or being a part of
Pride Industries. What would someone need to do?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
So? We have a very robust website and it's very
easy to remember Pride Industries dot com. But we also
have a very unique I am able hotline designed uniquely
for people's disabilities who are seeking services and employment, and
it's kind of catchy. It's an eight four to four
I am able or eight four four four two six
(07:55):
two two five three, and someone can call that number
and be guided maybe to their state where they're living geographically,
or services or just information on how to become employed.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And super easy way to find different jobs that are
available and potentially to pick amongst so many great positions there.
What about businesses, how can they find out more about
hiring people with disabilities?
Speaker 3 (08:25):
We make it so easy tailor they can use the
same two tools our website and or that a four
four number.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
All right, so absolutely fantastic, super easy to get it done.
And then, of course, companies hiring people with disabilities and
enjoying what I would consider to be a very diverse
and very inclusive workforce, it means a lot, not just
to the company, but also to the co workers, like
(08:54):
you were saying, to create this diversity and to experience
a much i would say, broader view of the workplace.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Now, if somebody wanted to be a part of Pride Industries,
or if a business is looking to become more inclusive,
is there anything that they need to do specifically other
than to just reach out or how does that typically work?
Speaker 3 (09:22):
No, they can definitely just reach out to us. We
have a team in place to help not only the
employer partners the people looking for applicants, but to match
the applicants with them, and we provide supports that can
include training. Oftentimes people disabilities, it takes a little bit
longer as steeper training curves, so we can help the
(09:45):
employer with that time and cost. Once they learn it,
they very seldom forget it. But we're here to help
both sides. We want this to be a perfect match.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That is fantastic. It is National Disability and Deployment Awareness
Month for the month of October, and you know, it
is fantastic to know that Pride Industries is there and available.
Whether you're an employer that is looking for workers, or
if you're someone in the community, maybe you're you're facing
a disability, you're also looking to become a member of
(10:19):
the workforce, or maybe you're looking for a new career.
Absolutely a fantastic way to pair up businesses and workforce.
One more time. The web address and the phone.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Number Pride Industries dot com and our hotline is eight
four four four two six two two five three.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
And it wouldn't it wouldn't be right of me to
not ask this question while I've got you on the line,
because I know there have been all kinds of companies
that have received help from Pride Industries to be paired
up with these employees. What are what are the companies
saying about this? For those that may be a naysayer
in the back somewhere, what are some of the companies
(11:07):
saying about the employees that they're matched with from Pride Industries.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
We've partnered with quite a few Native American casinos in
the California area, and I think my favorite quote is
from Red Hawk Casino where they said they were skeptical
and now their crew is a part of their enployment
plans and that their casino has never looked better or
(11:35):
felt better with regard to inclusion. I love them.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
That is absolutely fantastic. I love that. I love hearing
the good stories there. And of course, you know, this
is something that if you're a business owner here locally,
you definitely should look at and get in touch with
Pride Industries. Or if you're someone with a disability that
really wants to be a part of the workforce, there
is a way to find that employment that's best suited
(11:59):
for you. Darylyn, thank you so much for calling in
today and sharing with us on National Disability Employment Awareness
Month about what Pride Industries does and how they can help.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I appreciate the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Taylor, Thanks for listening to Talk of the Rock public
affairs and community events from the iHeartRadio studios in Little Rock.
Be sure to subscribe to this podcast and listen next
week as we talk to more guests about public service,
local charities, and events going on in your neighborhood.
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