Participant Success Story
Zac
Zac had participated in Project SEARCH, an unpaid work program through his high school which allowed him to work at Summa Akron City Hospital, to learn transferrable job skills. While in that program, Zac had the opportunity to work in the various departments, including laundry. After doing well during the school program, and when a part-time position opened, Zac applied for the position. Even though Zac did a great job as a student worker, the laundry department was unsure of how Zac would work independently. Zac was referred to Goodwill Vocational Services in October 2010 from the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation for a Job Try Out. A Job Try Out would give Zac the opportunity to demonstrate his skills and to practice working without assistance from a Summa employee. This program offered through Goodwill would also give Zac the opportunity to earn a paycheck while Summa and Zac decided if the job was the “right fit” for both of them.
Even though Zac had packed carts of clean linen during Project SEARCH, he had to learn how to pack more carts then he was responsible for during his school program; how to deliver them on 4 different routes to over 40 locations in the hospital; and to work 8 hour days for the first time in his life. During the Job Try Out, Zac worked with a Job Coach from Goodwill to help him learn these job tasks and provide Zac with feedback on ways he could increase his speed, as his pace was slower than his co-workers.
After several weeks of the Job Try Out, Summa decided to hire Zac on as a permanent part-time employee. The Goodwill Job Coach continued to work with Zac, and with time, he displayed more confidence in his ability to do the job; learned additional job tasks; and became comfortable with his co-workers. However, Zac still struggled to pack his carts within his shift. Zac’s supervisor made an accommodation by switching the supplies around in the laundry room to reduce the amount of walking back and forth to and from his cart, and the Job Coach worked with Zac on the new procedures which the supervisor created and almost immediately Zac increased his speed!
One day, when talking about pay day, Zac commented on his paycheck “I can’t believe how much money I won!” Zac was reminded that he earned the paycheck through his hard work. When asked what he was going to spend his money on Zac stated, “Whatever I want to!”
Zac will reach his 90th day of employment with Summa Akron City Hospital in mid-February. His supervisor reported that she is very pleased with Zac’s work and feels his co-workers enjoy having him on staff.
WIA Success Story
Joan
In meeting with our Training Case Mgr. it was learned this client was a high school graduate with no additional education, working as a dish washer and busing tables making $6.85, and wanted to obtain an aircraft mechanics license! She stated she was always very mechanically inclined and often worked with her father fixing things around the house including cars and power equipment. As she was very eager and committed the Training Case Mgr. performed the assessment process which indicated she would be successful. As her training would take place at a school in Youngstown he also talked with her parents who were very supportive and committed to her success.
Joan Bayura met with one of Goodwill’s Training Case Managers and stated she was very mechanically inclined and often worked with her father fixing things around the house, including cars and power equipment. She wanted to obtain an aircraft mechanics license! She was currently working as a dishwasher and busing tables making $6.85 per hour. Through Goodwill’s assessment process, it indicated she had the ability to be successful as an aircraft mechanic. After talking with her parents, who were very supportive and committed to Joan’s success, she was placed at a school in Youngstown, Ohio.
Joan was the FIRST female to be accepted in the course and she was determined to do well. She became more determined as several male students had to drop out. She kept in contact with her Case Manager and as she neared graduation she told him she was thrilled to find out she was nominated by her peers for the Chuck Johnson award, which honors the student who was most helpful with class projects and class work. Joan won the award and is able to boast being the first woman to graduate as a licensed aircraft mechanic and to receive the Chuck Johnson award.
Joan made the dean’s list, was the first female to start and complete the course, and she received an immediate job offer from an airline company in Cleveland. She will be starting at $16.00 per hour with full benefits. Also upon completion of any additional company sponsored training, she will receive a fifty cent per hour increase and she plans to take all of the additional training offered.
She later came into the One Stop to proudly show her license and “thanked” the staff for helping her attain her dream!