California company teams disabled workers with Monterey employer
October is National Disability Awareness Month and one local company focuses on employing people with disabilities all year long.
Pride Industries started in Auburn California in 1966, works with organizations to create employment for people with disabilities.
Hiring people with all abilities means inclusion.
"I like to be the bathroom man, do cleaning and keep the bathroom straight," said Calvin Wiseman, a Pride Industries employee.
The employees are the pride of Pride Industries. The Pride employees at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center do janitorial work. There are 26 employees, about 75% have disabilities according to Pride Industries janitorial supervisor, Rita McKim.
Pride Industries is a California-based company that operates in 15 states including Washington D.C. They strive to normalize workplace inclusion by creating jobs for people with disabilities and military veterans.
Click here to learn more about Pride Industries.
"They add positivity, the willingness to learn, the willingness to work, they want to be out in the world and just be creative," said McKim.
Wiseman is a Vietnam War veteran who grew up on a tobacco farm in Maryland. After receiving mental health help from the Veterans Affairs office two years ago, Pride hooked him up with a job.
Wiseman said, "being around veterans a lot I love to do a good job. And do a good job for the soldiers because it's like my life come into full circle."
Phillip Gutierrez, a Pride Industries employee said, "I'm learning how to do stuff that I've never done before. How to clean and dust."
Gutierrez said working for Pride gave him the skills needed to start his own business, called Phil's Custodial Services. "I'm very proud, I got three buildings I clean," Gutierrez said.
Steve Parker, another Pride Industries employee said "I feel like I belong and just contributing something and helping out."
For Steve Parker finding employment when you have a disability has had its challenges.
"I mentioned in a couple of interviews that I have a disability and I notice it stops right there," Parker explained. "I tried to convince them that I'm a valuable person and I go above and beyond my disability and try to fit in with the others,"
Pride industries has an employment helpline called I AM ABLE that is dedicated to helping people with disabilities, military veterans, former foster youth, and trafficking survivors find a job
Click here for information on the I AM ABLE helpline. Or you can call 844-I-AMABLE of 844-426-2253