Ep 1. Hire Intelligence

The Employables is a docuseries that delves into the lives of people who are struggling to find employment due to their disabilities. The first episode of season 1, titled Hire Intelligence, follows two such individuals, Ben and Kellie, as they navigate the job hunt.

Ben is a 27-year-old man who has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism that affects social interaction and communication skills. Despite having a college degree in computer science, Ben has been unable to land a job in his field due to his struggles with interviewing and networking.

Kellie, on the other hand, is a 29-year-old woman with Tourette's Syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations. She has a degree in psychology and hopes to work in a field where she can help others with disabilities, but has been turned down by numerous employers due to her tics.

Throughout the episode, we see Ben and Kellie working with job coaches who help them highlight their strengths and develop strategies for overcoming their challenges. Ben learns how to make eye contact during interviews and practice small talk, while Kellie practices disclosing her disability to potential employers and addressing their concerns.

The show also highlights some of the stigmas and misconceptions surrounding disabilities in the workplace. One employer tells Kellie that they can't hire her because they're afraid her tics will scare off customers, while another assumes that Ben won't be able to work well on a team due to his social difficulties. These attitudes make it even harder for people with disabilities to find jobs.

Despite these setbacks, both Ben and Kellie remain determined to find employment and prove their worth. They attend job fairs and networking events, reach out to potential employers, and continue to refine their job search strategies.

Overall, Hire Intelligence is an inspiring look at the challenges faced by people with disabilities in the job market, and the ways in which they are working to overcome them. The show encourages us to rethink the way we view disabilities and to recognize the valuable contributions that people with all kinds of abilities can make in the workplace.