WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.250 My name is Henry Winkleman. 00:00:02.266 --> 00:00:05.625 I'm a working person with ability not disability. 00:00:08.302 --> 00:00:11.536 Here at the Clarks company my job title is Development Coordinator 00:00:11.552 --> 00:00:16.612 I am the Development Coordinator for opening up new stores and renovating existing ones. 00:00:16.627 --> 00:00:19.647 I'm the development coordinator for the First Step Program 00:00:19.662 --> 00:00:22.248 which is a program for people with disabilities 00:00:22.248 --> 00:00:25.635 return to work through a short term intership here a Clark's 00:00:25.635 --> 00:00:29.211 The goal of the program is for people, during their six month internship, 00:00:29.211 --> 00:00:32.461 to build their self-esteem and their confidence and to realize 00:00:32.461 --> 00:00:35.481 that they bring value to companies. 00:00:35.481 --> 00:00:37.094 Once they build up their self-esteem and confidence 00:00:37.094 --> 00:00:41.285 their really truly able and ready to learn the skills that they need 00:00:41.285 --> 00:00:43.051 to become fully employed. 00:00:43.051 --> 00:00:45.929 Having a job makes me feel excellent. 00:00:45.929 --> 00:00:47.740 When I don't have a job, I felt worthless. 00:00:47.740 --> 00:00:51.270 I felt like I provided no value to anyone. 00:00:51.270 --> 00:00:54.613 I found that it very very hard to find a job 00:00:54.613 --> 00:00:58.468 and luckily I became involved with Triangle and the MRC. 00:00:58.468 --> 00:01:01.765 My memory disability, in fact, aided my redevelopment, 00:01:01.765 --> 00:01:04.691 because whenever people would say you can't do that 00:01:04.691 --> 00:01:07.804 I would just turn around and think that I could and I would do it. 00:01:08.081 --> 00:01:10.171 I always kept look toward the future. 00:01:10.171 --> 00:01:13.979 To really succeed, it makes sense to start at the bottom 00:01:13.979 --> 00:01:17.926 take a good first step, then you can take another step forward 00:01:17.926 --> 00:01:22.059 and another step forward, but you need to start at a basic level 00:01:22.059 --> 00:01:27.028 where you can bring yourself a sense of self-worth and where you can show other people 00:01:27.028 --> 00:01:29.338 the value that you have and offer. 00:01:29.338 --> 00:01:32.694 When I hear the word disability used, I think that it is the worst word 00:01:32.694 --> 00:01:34.877 in the English language. 00:01:34.877 --> 00:01:39.381 Disability implies that you do not have abilities and that you are unable. 00:01:39.381 --> 00:01:42.121 In fact that is not what it is supposed to mean, 00:01:42.121 --> 00:01:45.604 It is supposed to mean abled but limited in their abilities 00:01:45.604 --> 00:01:49.087 Disability, should be stricken from the English language. 00:01:49.087 --> 00:01:53.917 I talk with employers very often about offering opportunities to people with disabilities 00:01:53.917 --> 00:01:57.679 and I think I would describe it in a way that very few can 00:01:57.679 --> 00:02:00.790 because I have a person who had a disability 00:02:00.790 --> 00:02:03.066 and now I'm an employer. 00:02:03.066 --> 00:02:05.202 I would say that you made the right choice 00:02:05.202 --> 00:02:10.635 You're offering opportunity to people that is crucial, but what you're going to find 00:02:10.635 --> 00:02:13.210 is a diamond in the rough. 00:02:13.210 --> 00:02:17.323 With a little bit of time, effort and education, these people grow 00:02:17.323 --> 00:02:19.598 into the most productive members of your staff. 00:02:19.598 --> 00:02:22.803 The advice that I would give to people looking for work is 00:02:22.803 --> 00:02:26.025 give 100% effort. 00:02:26.040 --> 00:02:29.351 Too many people give that 50% effort and that is what they get out of it 00:02:29.351 --> 00:02:31.626 but if you apply yourself completely, 00:02:31.626 --> 00:02:34.970 devote yourself to looking for a job, you'll find a job. 00:02:34.970 --> 00:02:37.449 Don't ever give up. 00:02:37.449 --> 00:02:39.846 Keep going; keep moving forward. 00:02:39.846 --> 00:02:46.202 We can all lay back on our past, but the future is where the future lies.