Easterseals Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month
As many business owners can attest, good help is hard to find. However, there is a population of people often overlooked in the job market, and that is a big mistake. People with disabilities, like Herman “Jamie” Powell, who works at the Sussex County Courthouses, are some of the most reliable and dedicated people an employer could ever hire. Easterseals celebrates these employees during National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.
“Jamie is flexible and is always accommodating. He never calls out unless he is extremely unwell. He is reliable and trustworthy working in his position independently. If I could have 10 Jamies I would be over the moon,” Kelsey Hickman, his Program Supervisor, says.
Easterseals can help businesses hire workers with disabilities through either Individual or Group Supported Employment Services. With the help of Easterseals Employment Specialists, workers with disabilities are matched with jobs in local businesses. Employment Specialists provide ongoing individualized training and coaching to ensure long-term success on the job. In group supported employment, small groups of participants work with on-site support and supervision by Easterseals staff.
Jamie is a Day Porter in Sussex County working through Individual Supported Employment in the courthouses in the Georgetown circle, including the Sussex County Courthouse, Family Court, Court of Chancery, and Justice of the Peace Court 14. He is responsible for keeping the areas clean during the day and is on call for emergency cleanups as he makes his way around the circle.
"I enjoy my job, and I am gaining valuable experience,” Jamie says. “The schedule is flexible and accommodating and almost everyone I encounter is very friendly.”
Held annually, National Disability Employment Awareness Month is observed in October to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of American workers with disabilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 22.5 percent of disabled people were employed in 2023 and the jobless rate for those with a disability was approximately twice as high as the rate for those without a disability. Many people with disabilities want to work but have not been able to secure jobs because of accessibility and attitudinal barriers.
On his days off, Jamie enjoys a good scary movie, playing Super Mario Brothers and Farm Heroes, and walking in the fresh air. He uses the money earned from his job to help his mom pay bills, but he also saves his money in hopes to one day visit Hawaii and immerse himself in their culture, especially the Hawaiian dances.
Currently, Easterseals works with more than 60 businesses statewide, supporting more than 80 individuals with disabilities in competitive employment. To learn more about how Easterseals can help you find the perfect employee for your business, call Jane Schuler at 302-324-4444.
Easterseals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore is leading the way to an inclusive community through its innovative services, which include: children’s therapies, day programs for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities, supported employment, attendant services, senior services, recreational camping, respite services, and services for caregivers. To learn more about Easterseals, call 1-800-677-3800 or visit www.easterseals.com/de.
Photo: The staff at the courthouses in Sussex County know they can count on Jamie Powell, who works as a Day Porter through Easterseals Supported Employment program.
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