🔎📝🏢 “The Secrets of the Hidden Work Force” (2024) 🏢📝🔎 – Book Review
Book Details:
Book Title: The Secrets of the Hidden Workforce by Lisa Toth
Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 142 pages
Genre: Nonfiction Occupational
Publisher: Yorkshire Publishing
Release date: March, 2024
Content Rating: PG. Suitable for all adults 17+
Radio show host, Lisa Toth shares how she created a staffing agency for the developmentally disabled population. Over the years, Toth has helped thousands of individuals with disabilities find work that Is not only a good fit for their strengths, but also work they find fulfilling. Readers will enjoy this collection of inspiring stories, as well as the honest candor with which Lisa shares the lessons she learned along the way. She and her clients have faced daunting obstacles and challenges that would make many give up. It's the challenges that make the successes extra sweet for all of them.
Rise Staffing
Amazon ~ B&N
Lisa Toth, CEO Owner at Rise Staffing is passionate about employment. Her favorite thing is matching people with great employers! In addition to this work, Toth is the host of the successful radio show "The Hidden Workforce," a show about the positive impact people with different abilities bring to the workforce.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook
This is not typically the kind of book I would read. But, as someone with a special needs relative (moderate to significant impairment), I enjoy seeing people give him a chance to work, and at least feel some sense of accomplishment even if he can’t express it all the way and I can’t understand his speech.
There are so many misconceptions about what developmentally challenged people can do. And, it’s sad that there is still – even in 2024 – some cruelty regarding these individuals. Most of it is permeated throughout social media. I know Instagram and Facebook get overwhelmingly toxic at times.
A few days earlier (when I was drafting this review), I was spending some time (as I usually do) on social media. I had to put my phone down after reading a horrible comment on a mother’s Instagram reel.
It was a sweet and real moment in a Target between a mother and daughter regarding inflation and the price of clothes. The daughter (age 9) was using one forearm crutch, she couldn’t move well, and was speaking slowly. She read the price tag of the nightshirt she wanted. It was $17 and the girl sweetly commented about the price. One of the hashtags was: #CerebralPalsy. A very nasty woman commented “talks like a baby” about the girl.
I commented that the person should delete the comment. I felt it was hateful and bigoted.
Another person was horrified by the mother’s reel and unfollowed the woman for “exploiting her child”.
What I learned from a few posts – Abigail is a MODEL for Target, as well as other brands. Talk about inspiring. And, Abigail is doing a “job” within her potential – modeling clothes.
So, the author’s book is quite relevant whether one would believe it or not.
And, did I mention we’re in 2024? Almost the fourth (4th) month?
It seems society should be past the bigotry towards disabled people.
Given the sensitive nature of the topic – this might have some potential triggers. Even the author states there are things going on politically she doesn’t understand. She does make a slight reference of the volatile opinions on abortion, as well as a nod to mass shootings. There is also a very good, but controversial mention of “half-truths” (which spread like wildfire on social media). There is also mention of abuse and in care facilities. Sadly, this continues to this day. Another contentious issue – a disabled person dying in police custody due to the police’s inability to understand the situation, and a lack of accountability.
Toth starts with an introduction about the discrimination faced by these individuals, and becoming aware of it at an early age. The author’s parents went so far as to forbade her to interact with a neighbor’s child. I honestly can’t imagine that shallow of a mind. While not trying to make light of it – their condition isn’t communicable like a virus.
The author then takes readers through her early work experiences with certain patients, though changing their names for privacy. I could’ve dealt without some of the more “graphic” stuff. It seemed, in some ways, too much information. Some might say “exploitative”. Though, I understood her motives, it was a bit uncomfortable.
The book also delves into some sexual topics as well. Such as discussing the topic of intimacy with and between Intellectually Disabled and Developmentally Disabled (ID/DD) individuals.
Each step of the way, the author learned something about working with and assisting ID/DD patients and clients.
She’s made some remarkable efforts and plans. Her experiences within certain fields has given her the motivation to create her agency. And, those experiences also provide educational points along the way. It is very evident that the author feels extremely passionate about her work, even after all of those experiences.
It is clear that the employment sector still has a long way to go to, as well as the medical sector. There is a lot of bias and discrimination towards the senior and physically disabled communities, so there stands to reason there is undoubtedly even more bias and discrimination towards ID/DD people. And, there shouldn’t be.
The passion Toth exudes is also evident in her writing. She comes across as casual and informative. Sometimes, too informative. But, this could easily be a seminar or a casual conversation between colleagues.
Toth’s book should be read by individuals who make hiring decisions, as well as those in the medical community. There is information in this, as well as ideas, that would foster better communication.
As someone not in those fields, I didn’t get the same impact. But, I will say that Toth is on the right path. I wish there were more people like her.
The book is an easy and short read. I read it in about a day.
I would’ve liked to see more resource information for ID/DD
individuals and their families though.
My Rating:
3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
Bookbub – Book Not Listed
3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see
rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
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