Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities in the workplace and recognize the importance of creating opportunities for everyone to build meaningful careers. It’s also a chance to share stories of growth, confidence and success.
Vicki’s employment journey is a great example of what can happen when someone finds the right opportunity and gets the right support.
With support from posAbilities Employment Services, Vicki found a job at No Frills at the beginning of this year. Starting as a Grocery Clerk, she quickly became a valued member of the team. Her Employment Specialist helped her through the process and continued to check in with Vicki and her manager after she started working.
At No Frills, Vicki enjoys helping customers, talking with her teammates and learning new things. She has developed new workplace skills, including processing perpetual inventory, completing claim requests and doing cycle counts.
But one of Vicki’s biggest achievements has been stepping outside her comfort zone.
“Before, I was very shy and didn’t like to talk to people,” Vicki shared. “But I got out of my comfort zone, and my manager gave me the opportunity to be the Assistant Manager.”
That opportunity has helped Vicki grow into an Assistant Manager role, where she now takes on more responsibility and supports her manager, coworkers and customers. Her hard work and willingness to support her teammates have not gone unnoticed. Her employer recognizes her dedication and the positive impact she has on the workplace.
While the role comes with new challenges, Vicki enjoys meeting new coworkers and helping customers. She is proud of how much she has grown and is excited to keep learning.
Outside of work, Vicki has another goal: reaching 1,000 followers on Instagram. Over the next three years, she hopes to create more consistent content and bring together her work and passion for content creation.
Throughout her journey, having continued support from her Employment Specialist has also made a difference.
“It was so amazing to have my Employment Specialist always there with me,” she said.
Vicki’s journey shows how meaningful employment can open the door to new skills, greater confidence and opportunities to take on new challenges. Her story is also a reminder of the impact that inclusive workplaces and supportive employment services can have.
This Disability Employment Awareness Month, we’re proud to celebrate Vicki and the many people who are building their skills, pursuing their goals and making valuable contributions in their workplaces.
And Vicki’s advice to anyone working toward their own goals is simple:
“If you have a dream, just follow it.”