The Employer's Link - November 2006
Wal-Mart Wins with Danny as Cart Stocker
While there may not be millions of shoppers per day at his store, Danny will tell you that there are certainly a lot of them. And he should know. Danny’s job is to gather shopping carts from the cart return stations in the parking lot and push them back to the store entrance. He also keeps the parking lot clean.
Danny says that his favorite part of his job is knowing that his work helps people.
“I like making sure that the carts are stocked in the store, and that they don’t hit people’s cars in the parking lot,” he said.
While he could be tempted to use his paycheck to shop at the store, Danny instead saves his money. His job at Wal-Mart is Danny’s first, and he enjoys seeing how his hard work pays off.
While he has only been on the job for about a month, Danny’s enthusiasm and work ethic shine through in his performance.
“Danny is constantly improving,” said James Alexander, his on-the-job trainer from Special Care & Career Services. “And no matter what the weather, he’s out here in the elements getting the job done.”
Danny’s supervisor, Wal-Mart front-end manager Jessica Resendiz, echoes his trainer’s statements.
“Danny is an asset to our store, and I would definitely hire someone else with a disability if he or she had his dedication,” she said.
With his strong work ethic and appreciation for the rewards of his labors, Danny exemplifies the spirit of so many individuals with developmental disabilities who have the skills and desire to work and need only for employers to invest in them.
Special Care & Career Services’ Supported Employment program connects area businesses with employees like Danny – individuals from a talent pool that perhaps employers have not explored before. Whether your company serves 100 people per day or 1 million, Special Care & Career Services’ Supported Employment clients can enhance your workplace in innumerable ways. Contact us today to learn more!
Sherri Barrett, Supported Employment Program Director
972-991-6777, x143
Volunteers Help Ensure Long-Term Job Success
Our Supported Employment program consists of a four-phase process in which we help individuals with developmental disabilities to find and keep competitive jobs in the community. The final piece of the puzzle entails providing Continued Support Services (CSS) checks – monthly or bi-monthly visits to each client’s job site. And this is where our Continued Support Volunteers step in.
Continued Support Volunteers check in with our employed clients on the job site in order to observe the client’s performance over a 1-hour period, speak with the client’s supervisors, and report back to the agency via simple written form. These monthly or bi-monthly visits help us to resolve any problems before they become serious and can mean the difference between a client being dismissed from a job and celebrating 20 or more years of employment.
The Continued Support Volunteer program offers unique benefits and opportunities. Participants can:
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Volunteer as few or as many hours per month as they choose
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Select Continued Support sites at locations convenient to home and/or office
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Perform CSS checks before or after work, on a lunch break, or even on weekends
Once a volunteer is assigned to a client/clients, the volunteer should commit to making regular visits, for continuity’s sake and the client's best interest.
Numerous proactive businesses encourage volunteerism among their employees, and our Continued Support Volunteer program is a great fit for many companies, as well as individuals. Visit our Volunteer Opportunities page to learn more and sign up to volunteer with Special Care & Career Services!
