Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Access and Good Jobs for ALL!

Each October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. NDEAM’s purpose is to confirm our commitment to ensuring workers with disabilities have access to good jobs in careers of their choice. That’s the spirit behind this year’s official theme from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy: “Access to Good Jobs for All.” You can learn more about NDEAM, including access to videos, ideas on how to celebrate, and much more from at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/ndeam.  

This year, the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) is pleased to share real stories from real North Carolinians with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are working with our communities. Would you like to share your story? Contact us at [email protected] if you do! We will set up a time to interview you.

Kimberly Hernandez: Supporting People with Finding Jobs

Kimberly Hernandez is a SPARK peer mentor for Chatham Trade in Chatham County since May 20, 2024.

"I love interacting with each candidate that VR [now called Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities] refers to us. It gives me the opportunity to see what skills I can provide them," said Kimberly.

She helps at intake to fill our information to prepare them for jobs to discuss with the job coaches provided by Chatham Trades. Kimberly said, "I am there as support as someone they can talk to. So, if they did not get the job they wanted, I am there to support and help them look at the bright side."

Her favorite part of her job is getting to know each candidate and working with her coworkers to provide resources.

Whether at work or at home or in the community, Kimberly emphasized how she sees herself. “Aside from my disability, I am human and regardless of what I face, I still overcome certain obstacle that are put in my way,” said Kimberly.

She also shared her favorite quote from the movie, "Walk. Ride. Rodeo," that inspires her every day and hopes others will feel the same way: "This chair can either be your wings or your anchor. You decide.”

Nicholas (Nick) Pietrantonio: An Opportunity He Never Thought He Would Have

Nicholas (Nick) Pietrantonio is an Administrative Specialist I/Processing Assistant IV for the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities. He works in Buncombe/Henderson where he has many responsibilities: processing PreEts, authorizations, and referrals, and covering the front desk by answering calls and creating files. 

"I have been doing this for about six months after a one year internship," said Nick. "I started with the state office in July 2023. Before PreEts, I was doing things like putting in applications because my office was so behind. We are going into a transition to standardized milestones later this year. I am trying to catch up on understanding all of it…learning as I go."

Nick said he likes his job so much because of the staff. And it’s an opportunity he never thought he would have. "It shows you are able to follow your dreams and not give up hope and I hope people will be able to realize that. I want people to know that they can do it, too." He enjoys using his skills to help the people he works with as much as he can.

“I hope my story gives you hope. I want to give back to the disability community. That’s what people need to realize. When I worked for the school district, I learned a lot over there. Even though I was representing the school district, now I am representing the state! I think about that every day. You never know who you will run into. Treat everyone with respect. Treat people the ways you want to be treated.”

Maria: Finding Her Dream Job

NCCDD’s Community Living Mini-Grants initiative with ZABS Place helped to enhance the development of the Dream Link Skill Development Builder where individuals with intellectural or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) have the opportunity to develop job skills that they can market through videos where potential employers can see their skills. The Dream Link helps people who have been deemed “unemployable” or considered difficult to hire gain an opportunity to develop marketable skills.

One such individual benefiting from the Dream Link is Maria, who dreamed of working in a bakery. Rochel Groner of ZABS Place discovered the Whisk + Wood Bakery in Charlotte in a local café and reached out to the owner, Christina Morita, to thoughtfully share how the skills Maria honed while working in the ZABS Placing job training program would add value to the bakery.
Maria’s abilities and the work experience that she gained at ZABS Place aligned well with a Bakery Assistant position, so Whisk + Wood hired Maria to join their team.

Christina was amazed at the diligence that the ZABS Place team put forth to empower Maria during the training process. Maria’s job coach guided Maria until she was able to execute her tasks confidently and professionally. Maria has assisted the bakery by peeling and weighing bananas to be used to bake banana bread for the Charlotte area, and she said folding boxes is her favorite part of the job.

Christina appreciates how efficient ZABS Place make the onboarding process for Maria and how they “worked tirelessly to empower her to achieve her unique dreams.”

When she’s not working, Maria loves to dance and watch superhero shows, including her favorite, "Wonder Woman." Her next dream is to sail away on a Disney cruise.

Raimee Sorensen: Co-owner of an Absolutely "Blawesome" Farm and Design Studio

Blawesome(Photo credit to Matthew Chenet) is a Chapel Hill-based flower farm and design studio that offers beautiful, locally grown, organic arrangements for home delivery, as well as hosting tours and workshops for wedding parties, schools, businesses for staff teambuilding. The farm has utilized social care farming to provide therapeutic intervention for people with intellectual and development disabilities.

(Photo credit to Matthew Chenet)Raimee is a 27-year-old co-owner of the farm and described as a hard worker and reliable colleague with a great sense of humor. He has demonstrated proficiency and more autonomy to support the team as he selects to work the more demanding daily farm tasks from the posted task board, warranting the respect of his coworkers. He leads some of workshops and tours for the farm. Raimee never complains…just keeps going…aligning with the rhythm of nature and exploring his own potential. He sets the bar high for himself and viewed as simply amazing as he has overcome some medical barriers to embrace a happier and healthier existence. Raimee is also a self-taught pianist.

Raimee lives next door to the farm with his two roommates – great quality supportive living workers who are both trained and skilled to understand and respond to the needs of Raimee. Raimee’s family expressed appreciation to Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (formerly Vocational Rehabilitation) for the support and partnership to give Raimee his space and opportunity to shine!