As if the learning curve at Shaun OB次元官网网址橪earyB次元官网网址檚 new job stocking Pepsi Co. products in the aisles of Walmart wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough, the employee soon found a secondary challenge.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of [customers] come up to me asking for things, I have to tell them, I donB次元官网网址檛 know where everything is in Walmart, I only work for Pepsi Co.,B次元官网网址� says OB次元官网网址橪eary.
The 32-year-old would like to help, itB次元官网网址檚 in his nature, but first things first. He isnB次元官网网址檛 B次元官网网址榯ouchyB次元官网网址� about living with autism but it does present challenges, many of which heB次元官网网址檚 overcome. For now heB次元官网网址檚 happy, successful and relieved to have a job to show up at three times a week, even if itB次元官网网址檚 just for two hours at a time, moving thousands of dollars worth of product each day.
B次元官网网址淓veryone is very wonderful to me here, itB次元官网网址檚 a very good place to work,B次元官网网址� OB次元官网网址橪eary said. B次元官网网址淏ut it took [two more positions] before I found this, it has to be the right fit.B次元官网网址�
It was a good fit, OB次元官网网址橪eary learned, as soon as he told his supervisors about his time at a UVic library when he delivered books and materials to instructors. OB次元官网网址橪earyB次元官网网址檚 skill set with the libraryB次元官网网址檚 code of congress has served him well with sorting the numbers associated with each Pepsi Co. product.
OB次元官网网址橪eary came to the job through a friendB次元官网网址檚 referral to GT Hiring Solutions, an employee agency hired by the province to help place adults with disabilities into the work place. This week theyB次元官网网址檙e holding a thank you to those employers in town that have placed people into jobs.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a good start but thereB次元官网网址檚 still a lot of work-ready adults with disabilities who could be contributing, says GT spokesperson Maggie Kerr-Southin.
With one in seven Canadians aged 15 to 64 registered as living with a disability, which is about 334,000 B.C. residents. ThatB次元官网网址檚 one largely untapped employee talent pool, as many people with disabilities are highly educated and have comparable skills to people without disabilities.
The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is about 4.5 percentage points higher than for people without disabilities.
B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of people who could be working but it takes time, as [OB次元官网网址橪eary] said, it has to be a good fit,B次元官网网址� Kerr-Southin said. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 cost anything and the [employee agent] stays with you for several months once youB次元官网网址檙e placed to provide ongoing support.B次元官网网址�
In OB次元官网网址橪earyB次元官网网址檚 case, his supervisor is really happy with his progress and creative thinking, Kerr-Southin said.
When OB次元官网网址橪eary shows up to work, he moves the Lays, Ruffles, Doritos, Tostitos, Cheetos, and Smart Food popcorn and many other name brands in a presentable, well-stocked fashion on four different aisles in Walmart.
HeB次元官网网址檚 learned the first-in first-out system and even took job to the next level. Kerr-Southin was told OB次元官网网址橪eary actually studied how people were approaching the aisles and adjusted the Pepsi Co. products to face the customers as they approached, and itB次元官网网址檚 resulted in increased sales.
OB次元官网网址橪earyB次元官网网址檚 also an accomplished volunteer reporter whoB次元官网网址檚 interviewed Cindy Klassen, Hayley Wickenhauser, MLA Michele Stilwell, Nancy Green Raine and more for UVicB次元官网网址檚 CFUV radio, where he won the 2015 National Community Radio Association for sports programming.
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