NewsBreak Original

(Sponsored Content) DDSN is featuring employment success stories during October National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Greenwood, South Carolina - Some years ago, Jonta Hackett worked with the Burton Center, a regional disabilities and special needs organization, on a contract with the Real Estate Solutions (R.E.S.) Pallet Company in Greenwood, South Carolina. The company approached the Burton Center about renting their warehouse to use as a pallet shop. The Burton Center agreed with the understanding that if there were any possibilities to gain real work experience, that they would give individuals that were supported, the opportunity. R.E.S. Pallet Company provided several job experiences in their shop. Some workers scrapped and shaved off bark, some stamped identification markers on the wood, and a few learned to use a nail gun to assembly pallets. Jonta caught on quickly and learned how to build the pallets.

Columbia, South Carolina - (Testimony of Cierra Walker, Employee at the Cregger Company) At one time, I worked at the University of South Carolina in their dining area. I shared with my Employment Specialist that wanted to do some other type of work and that I wanted a job that was closer to home. I shared that I like to keep things clean and organized and that my dream job was helping a company to maintain a clean work environment. My Employment Specialist assisted with me with finding a new job at Cregger. Cregger is a wholesale distribution center for building supplies and construction materials. Having a clean and organized work area is very important to help things run smoothly. I have worked for Cregger for more than one year and I have made a lot of friends. There were lots of things to learn when I started the job, but I now know all the tasks involved in the position.