But Hagen said he had a good reason for being absent. He had a doctor’s appointment.
During his employer’s summer picnic Hagen received the company’s dedication award. This week, during Community Inclusions’ Employer Appreciation dinner Hagen picked up Community Inclusions’ perseverance award.
Assistant employment counsellor with Community Inclusions, Melissa MacDougall, said Hagen has been a client since 2006 and was often employed seasonally. “He doesn’t like to have down time,” she observed, noting he was regularly looking for year-round employment, finally finding it three years ago with the Elmsdale potato packaging operation. He describes it as his best job ever.
“Michael has always been pleasant and dedicated regardless of where he has been employed,” she observed before wishing him continued success.
At Griffins Hagen said he does various jobs including making the packing boxes and pacing them, and picking off the grading line.
The Sheri McInnis Inclusive Employer of the Year Award went to the Alberton Liquor Store, accepted by store manager Rhonda Arsenault.
Community Inclusions client Jared MacNeill fills a four-hour shift there every two weeks, helping with cleaning of the warehouse, bathroom and kitchen areas and helping customers deliver purchases to their cars.
“I wish more employers would get involved in this, because it’s so easy to make this work,” said Arsenault; “if people would just open up their minds to it and give it a chance.”
But Hagen said he had a good reason for being absent. He had a doctor’s appointment.
During his employer’s summer picnic Hagen received the company’s dedication award. This week, during Community Inclusions’ Employer Appreciation dinner Hagen picked up Community Inclusions’ perseverance award.
Assistant employment counsellor with Community Inclusions, Melissa MacDougall, said Hagen has been a client since 2006 and was often employed seasonally. “He doesn’t like to have down time,” she observed, noting he was regularly looking for year-round employment, finally finding it three years ago with the Elmsdale potato packaging operation. He describes it as his best job ever.
“Michael has always been pleasant and dedicated regardless of where he has been employed,” she observed before wishing him continued success.
At Griffins Hagen said he does various jobs including making the packing boxes and pacing them, and picking off the grading line.
The Sheri McInnis Inclusive Employer of the Year Award went to the Alberton Liquor Store, accepted by store manager Rhonda Arsenault.
Community Inclusions client Jared MacNeill fills a four-hour shift there every two weeks, helping with cleaning of the warehouse, bathroom and kitchen areas and helping customers deliver purchases to their cars.
“I wish more employers would get involved in this, because it’s so easy to make this work,” said Arsenault; “if people would just open up their minds to it and give it a chance.”
“When one business opens their doors to hiring one of the individuals that we support there is a domino effect on breaking down stereotypes, stigmas and limitations that are placed on the people we support,” said Community Inclusions’ Employment Counsellor Natalie Horne Gallant.
Gallant provided statistics from a national survey of employers which demonstrate the benefits of hiring persons with an intellectual disability. On average, employers gave employees with intellectual disabilities ratings of 93 per cent for both hard working and positive attitude and 90 per cent for dedication and reliability. The survey also found those clients were five times more likely to stay on the job.
Gallant said Community Inclusions provided some job coaching when Jared MacNeill first started working at the liquor store, but she noted it soon became a natural environment for their client. She commended the store’s staff for their support in helping to make that happen.
