Information on ClubFeet in Black and White

Sharon Barnes's Story

Our precious 24 year-old daughter who was born with a genetic club foot, has had multiple surgeries and lives with pain, just began her first job last week.

Within three days, after learning of her club foot she was fired. Her foot had nothing at all to do with her job performance. Of course, a bogus reason was given, one her father and I caught on to very quickly.

We are sure they were afraid she'd fall and become a liability. We are in the process of reporting the organization to our state Equal Employment Opportunity Commission,citing discrimination.

What it's taken her father and I 24 years to build was torn down in three days. I am so angry and hurt for her, I thought if I shared the pain it might make it easier. We, as parents, must fight for the rights of our children.

We understand their pain better than anyone. This stupid and ignorant behavior I could expect from children, but not from a prominent businessman and "church-goer" -- shame on all who stigmatize the handicapped!

Comments

Comment added by : Sheena T on the 23 May 2007 at 00:42am
I think that company is definitely in the wrong. When I was in my late teens I used to work at K-Mart. They told me that they welcomed handicapped people because the state would pay for half of my wages for them and it saved their company lots of money. I hope that your daughter has a new job and that she can look back at the bad company and see the incident as "that companies loss of a great talent".(Herself)
Comment added by : Robby M on the 28 May 2006 at 02:10am
i agree that is OUTRAGEOUS they would do that. I also had to put up with difficulty getting a job, because i am also often seen as a liability. I agree, and i support you in your fight againest them!!!


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