For The Last Six Years, Guests At The Valley Forge Hilton Hotel Have Had A Better Night's Rest Thanks To One AHEDD Participant

For the last 6 years, Karen Thal has tried not to "cut (or wrinkle) any corners". She's in charge of keeping the bed linens used at the Valley Forge Hilton Hotel crisp and neatly folded.

With the assistance of a private non-profit agency, AHEDD, the Montgomery County Office of Mental Retardation, and the Valley Forge Hilton Hotel, Karen has been able to successfully address the challenges posed by her multiple disabilities (Karen is deaf, has mild Cerebral Palsy and slight limitations with her cognitive abilities). Difficulties with communication have been overcome by Karen reading the lips of other co-workers and writing down her responses. In addition, Thal has found ways to hurdle the obstacle of the limited arm movement she experiences in her arms.

Director of Human Resources, Michael Paduano is pleased that Karen has remained with the Hilton Laundry Department for the last six years. Paduano states that Karen has "helped with productivity. She's brought stability to the laundry department." Even after 6 years of practice, no employee is perfect. Paduano hopes to help Karen continue to improve her job performance.

In an age of job hopping, loyal employees are an asset to employers. Personnel with disabilities have proven to be reliable. The reliability demonstrated by Paduano's personnel with disabilities is one reason why he says he would consider hiring other employees with similar challenges. Paduano believes that "everyone needs a chance. I think they are good workers and can bring a lot of stability to the hotel. They are the kind of people we look for in the hotel business."