Reporter Beth Adams and WXXI News featured a West Irondequoit CSD staff member in an in-depth story on employees with disabilities being great team members. It features food service worker Debbie Lane of Dake Junior High School. She describes herself as a slow learner with anxiety issues. But she has grown to love working at Dake over the past six years.
"Everything she does is very good. Very good," says Lane's supervisor, Lourdes Santana, Cook Manager at Dake.
Ursula Nicholson, the Director of Employment Services for Starbridge, the agency that placed Lane with West Irondequoit, says some employers grossly underestimate people with disabilities, but the tightening of the labor market is starting to change that mindset. "They're coming in with that new energy, that passion of 'Finally, someone sees me and I want to be here," Nicholoson said. That's Lane.
She credits her parents for teaching her about having a strong work ethic. Lane says she hopes people who read about her will learn acceptance of people with disabilities. "We are people; we have feelings," Lane said. "We're human beings and we should not be, like, pushed aside."
Read or hear the full story at this link: http://bit.ly/3H0DLVd
Photo credit: Max Schulte/WXXI News