William “Randy” Brown was a West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services referral to Job Squad.  Randy had previously worked in a sheltered workshop setting in Pennsylvania from 1973 to 1995.  He was hired by Job Squad as an “on-call” Mail Clerk in September of 2006.  In this position, Randy was called in to assist with bulk mailing which included hand sorting and folding.  Staff encouraged Randy to try working around the mail machine but Randy said that someone had once told him that he was unable to work around machines and he was hesitant to work around the mail sorter.  Consequently, he worked very few hours until JSI Presort Mail moved to a new location in 2008. The move brought increased work and Randy’s help was desperately needed.  He agreed to work the line and pull mail from the mail machine which he had never done before.  After the first few minutes of doing this new work, Randy went to his supervisor, Chris Wilson, and told him that he loved it.  Since then Randy has increased his work hours from just a few days per month to full time, five days a week.  In addition to finding Randy working the with the mail, we oftentimes find him outside picking up trash on the street before and after work to help do his part in making Charleston, WV a beautiful place to live and work.  In his free time, Randy stays current with all aspects of government and daily news events and is an avid reader of history books. He has on numerous occasions, written articles for a variety of local newspapers on political and historical topics. Randy has overcome many of the barriers brought on by his disability to become a valued worker and real asset to Job Squad.

Job Squad Video 2

Job Squad Video

Andy Ball

“I was looking for work with another company in 1996 when the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) referred me to Job Squad. They reviewed the documentation of my disability and sent me a letter to invite me to come in for an interview. I was hired and worked for a year part-time as a Substitute Janitor at the FBI fingerprint facility.

In 1997 I became a full-time Janitor and worked in that role for four years. In 2001 I transferred to the FBI’s Satellite II office in the Middletown Mall where I gained valuable experience related to dealing with people and in working independently, which was an important step in my development as a supervisor.

In 2002 I returned to the main FBI facility as a Substitute Crew Leader and in 2004 became a full-time Crew Leader (which we now call Supervisor) and have been ever since.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work for Job Squad all these years; it has allowed me to have a nice living. I am married, have a son and a home that is now paid for.”

“Andy’s value to Job Squad as an employee is too great to measure. His unfailingly positive attitude, his automatic credibility as a person with a disability and his growth as a supervisor and a mentor are inspirational to other employees. He has shared his story at various conferences, presentations and meetings and has thereby also inspired the community.”

-- Jim Womeldorff, Director of Operations and Business Development

MARK CAMPBELL'S STORY

Mark’s first job out of high school was with a local county Parks and Recreation mowing grass and doing basic landscaping duties. Throughout his life Mark had always enjoyed being outside so he thought this would be the perfect job for him. Mark did enjoy the job but was told many times he was not fast enough at this or that part of the job and was eventually laid off in 2009.

Mark heard about Job Squad and put in an application soon after being laid off and in January 2010 was hired by Job Squad as a Grounds Maintenance Worker. Mark worked at a government facility in which Job Squad contracts with and early on excelled at mowing grass and volunteering for any work that was available. Over the course of the next two years and with the assistance of his supervisors, Mark expanded his knowledge and skills in grounds maintenance. With the extra support Mark became one of the Job Squad’s best workers at the more labor intensive duties, such as using chainsaws and other heavy equipment, while still excelling at his regular grounds duties.

In December 2012, Mark left Job Squad to try some new things and look for other opportunities. For about a year, Mark tried four different jobs from Waste Management to Construction, but each time he was left without a job after a month or so. Mark was told again and again that he was too slow or couldn't learn certain aspects of his job. Mark always felt that he could do his job if given the correct support and time to learn, but that never seemed to happen at these other businesses.

Mark reapplied to Job Squad and was hired back in August 2013 as a Grounds Maintenance Worker and is still currently employed. Mark jumped right back into his job and hopes to one day become a crew leader or supervisor. He wants to be able to support and teach others that find themselves in similar situations that he has found himself in his life.

Using Discovery, High School Transition to Work Student Enjoying His Passion

Gabe Radcliff is a High School Transition to Work student thru the Harrison County Board of Education. Gabe is a senior at Liberty High School and will graduate this May 2014.    Gabe is excited about the opportunities ahead for him.

Gabe loves theater and enjoys playing characters.  He has held leading roles in the Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, and Shrek in his high school plays and received excellent reviews from everyone who had the opportunity to see one or all of the plays.  Because Gabe loves playing a character, we began searching for employment opportunities where he could fulfill his love of acting, while utilizing his skills and talents. 

During Discovery, we visited the Illusive Skull in Fairmont.  The owner recognized Gabe as soon as we walked through the door from the plays he performed in in high school.   We began talking, and she stated that Gabe did an excellent job in Shrek.   The owner gave us contact information for Fairmont State University Community Theater that puts on plays in the summer.   Gabe scheduled an audition and earned a part playing a town person in the play, Tom Sawyer.

Using social capital with Chick-Fil-A, Gabe expressed an interest in dressing as the cow character.  We scheduled an Informational Interview with the owner of our local Chick-Fil-A, and she agreed that she could use Gabe to dress as the cow. By having Gabe as the designated “cow” person, she does not have to pull another employee away from their tasks.   

The first night Gabe worked was Kid’s Night; and, he loved it!   Afterwards, he asked when he could work again.   Gabe is working at Chick-Fil-A two to three nights a week dressing as the cow and entertaining the children.   He not only works at the restaurant, but they have also asked Gabe to be involved in their community events. 


The future looks bright for Gabe.  He’ll soon begin play practice with the community group for the first community play of the summer at Fairmont State University.  We are continuing to use social capital as a means to introduce Gabe to local actors and other businesses, such as the Illusive Skull, where Gabe can continue to grow his interests and skills in the area of acting.

Submitted by:  Julie Davis, Career Counselor

FABULOUS DEBBIE - BEGINNING A NEW CAREER

Debbie High is 58 years old and fabulous!  She has known most of her life that she was a vibrant and outgoing approachable person; however, she didn’t come into her own until she reached the big 50.  Debbie lived a sheltered life while residing with her family in a rural town.  Her parents wanted to protect her from the perils of the world so she didn’t get to go to school till she was an adult like everyone else, and she didn’t interact with community members or do things expected of her age group growing up.  Once her parents passed away, her sister knew it was time for Debbie to shine.  It took a lot of persuading on her sister’s part to get Debbie to open up and experience the world, but once she did there was no end to her becoming an active community member.  Once she moved in with her sister, Debbie began volunteering at a local nursing home assisting the residents with bingo.  Then she began attending a Day Habilitation Program held by a local community health provider.  Debbie’s sister knew Debbie needed more.  With the help of her sister and companions Debbie began to experience more of the world with bowling, shopping, going out to eat, and visiting the local Hot Spots for a little game of chance.  These are activities that she began to need on a weekly even daily basis to meet her social needs. 

During all of these activities and interactions Debbie has become a known community member.  Her sister is always pleasantly surprised when she is out with Debbie and she runs into someone who knows her.  Debbie’s sister still knew Debbie could do more and needed more to thrive.  That’s when Job Squad came into the picture.   Debbie had an interest in employment.  Debbie loves bling and needed a way to feed her ring and bracelet obsession.  Through the Discovery process and just meeting Debbie it was apparent that she is very outgoing and loves fashion.  After some time, Job Squad was able to make a connection with a locally owned consignment store where Debbie was eventually hired to sort and hang all incoming consignment and to assist with getting the new product out onto the sales floor.  She had to organize the clothes by size and color and keep the racks orderly and presentable.  After some time due to some unforeseen issues, Debbie was laid off.  Over the next coming months, Debbie took another big step in life by obtaining an apartment of her own. 

Debbie’s story is still continuing with a new job at TJ Maxx where she works three days a week.  Debbie sorts incoming merchandise and follows TJ Maxx company protocol for hanging all new clothing by department and company specifications.  She continues to collect rings and bracelets and maintains an active lifestyle.  Debbie’s story has been one of growth and change.  The story of fabulous still has pages left to fill.

Written by:  Shannon Corso, Career Counselor, Job Squad, Inc.