Mary first came to ACCSES NJ member Easterseals nine years ago for assistance with obtaining employment. Mary began as a product packer, but quickly demonstrated that she was capable of much more. She then trained for several other positions at Easterseals, including material handling, palletizing, and sealing. Mary used her knowledge of these jobs to teach other participants and set a positive example for her peers. Mary displayed the qualities of leadership and responsibility, and expressed that she was interested in working in the community as well.
Mary’s first employment position was selling items with her aunt at the Vineland Flea Market. That first job not only provided exposure to employment, but also piqued her interest in a career in retail, something she expressed to Easterseals.
The vocational training at Easterseals provided Mary with education about interpersonal skills and professionalism in the workplace. She exhibited creativity with her choice of apparel and created all of her own clothing handbags and jewelry by hand, something she still does now! Given her experience and interests, Mary was a perfect fit for employment in the retail industry. She informed Easterseals staff about her desire for community employment. With their assistance, she created a resume and completed an application.
Mary successfully obtained a position at a local retail store, and has maintained employment there this past year. Mary reports that she loves her job. Her favorite task is completing inventory through the creation of bar-code tags for new clothing items. She is as eager as ever to help others and train new staff and credits Easterseals for helping to keep her motivated about work and be active in her community.
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