Job Fair Canceled; Recession Blamed

A job fair designed to help those with disabilities was canceled Wednesday, the victim of the sting of recession, organizers said.

None of the 344 San Fernando Valley employers who were invited signed up for Build Rehabilitation Industries Inc.’s Job Fair for People with Disabilities before the registration deadline last week, and Build canceled the event.

At the last minute, two employers said they would be willing to come, but Build had already given up the chance to use a donated ballroom at Warner Center Marriott and told many clients not to come.

“It’s really discouraging,” said Roger Nikaido, manager of Build’s Job Placement Department. “We were hoping for a moderate showing of 20 or 25 businesses, but we got nothing.”

Nikaido blamed the lack of response on tough economic times and an age-old bias.

“Employers are just not educated enough about the skills of these people,” he said. “They don’t even want to give them a shot, they won’t even consider it. It’s just old thinking. But it will change with time.”

Build, which advertised about the job fair through local social-service groups and newspapers, radio and cable TV, had expected 300 to 500 job-seekers.

Despite efforts to publicize the cancellation, about a dozen people showed up. They were met in the foyer by Nikaido and a staff member, who offered apologies.

“I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised no one came,” said Violeta Orlando, who suffers from clinical depression and said she has been unemployed for four years. “Why should they hire us, when they can have the pick of the crop?”