A suit was filed Monday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Papa John’s Pizza for firing Scott Bonn - a Utah employee with Down syndrome who the EEOC claims had been working successfully at the pizzeria.
Papa John’s Pizza website states in part, “We believe that commitment is the key ingredient for making our communities better places for all.”
There are companies throughout Utah that adhere to that same philosophy and employ those with disabilities. According to Gordon Richins, a consumer liaison with the Center for Persons with Disabilities, everyone benefits from this philosophy.
“The greatest benefit of employing an individual with a disability is the inclusiveness it adds to your workforce," Richins said. "The more inclusive the workforce is the more appealing it is to the general public and the customers and it also allows individuals with and without disabilities to learn from each other. Because we’re all people. We are a little bit different in different ways. I use to be an old redneck and now I am an individual with a physical disability.”
Richins said people with disabilities are not handicapped, they’re disabled and have the same desires as the rest of society.
“People with disabilities are just as independent as anyone else in many cases," Richins said. "We’re people first. We’re people, we do things just like everyone else. Just in different ways. In my case I use assistive technologies and a power wheelchair but we still stay productive all day.”
Utah offers incentives and tax credits to companies who hire individuals with disabilities.