My name is Henry Winkleman.
I'm a working person with ability not disability.
Here at the Clarks company my job title is Development Coordinator
I am the Development Coordinator for opening up new stores and renovating existing ones.
I'm the development coordinator for the First Step Program
which is a program for people with disabilities
return to work through a short term intership here a Clark's
The goal of the program is for people, during their six month internship,
to build their self-esteem and their confidence and to realize
that they bring value to companies.
Once they build up their self-esteem and confidence
their really truly able and ready to learn the skills that they need
to become fully employed.
Having a job makes me feel excellent.
When I don't have a job, I felt worthless.
I felt like I provided no value to anyone.
I found that it very very hard to find a job
and luckily I became involved with Triangle and the MRC.
My memory disability, in fact, aided my redevelopment,
because whenever people would say you can't do that
I would just turn around and think that I could and I would do it.
I always kept look toward the future.
To really succeed, it makes sense to start at the bottom
take a good first step, then you can take another step forward
and another step forward, but you need to start at a basic level
where you can bring yourself a sense of self-worth and where you can show other people
the value that you have and offer.
When I hear the word disability used, I think that it is the worst word
in the English language.
Disability implies that you do not have abilities and that you are unable.
In fact that is not what it is supposed to mean,
It is supposed to mean abled but limited in their abilities
Disability, should be stricken from the English language.
I talk with employers very often about offering opportunities to people with disabilities
and I think I would describe it in a way that very few can
because I have a person who had a disability
and now I'm an employer.
I would say that you made the right choice
You're offering opportunity to people that is crucial, but what you're going to find
is a diamond in the rough.
With a little bit of time, effort and education, these people grow
into the most productive members of your staff.
The advice that I would give to people looking for work is
give 100% effort.
Too many people give that 50% effort and that is what they get out of it
but if you apply yourself completely,
devote yourself to looking for a job, you'll find a job.
Don't ever give up.
Keep going; keep moving forward.
We can all lay back on our past, but the future is where the future lies.