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When shopping for new kitchen cabinets, appliances, carpeting or other home improvement items, you may want to visit Lowe’s on Balltown Road in Schenectady where Schenectady ARC consumer, Ted Seefeld, has been a loyal employee thanks to the wonderful partnership the company has maintained with SARC’s New Directions Employment Services.
With a belief that community involvement extends beyond the boundaries of the traditional retail setting and a commitment to helping people in the community, Lowe’s has been a partner with Schenectady ARC for over four years. After identifying Ted’s strengths and skills, Lowe’s was able to place Ted in a position that was a perfect fit. Ted, a very precise and detail oriented individual, reports to work three days each week to clean displays and appliances in several of Lowe’s departments. He takes great pride in his job and has been a dedicated employee for over a year now.
Store Manager, Lou Cancelliere, spoke very highly of his employee saying “Ted is a great guy. He works well here and associates really enjoy working with him. I’ve also received compliments from several customers who have had contact with Ted. What more could you ask for in an employee!”
Ted is equally thrilled with his employer, “I really like working here, have made many friends.” He especially enjoys earning a weekly paycheck and said he used some of the money he earned for a vacation to Florida he took in May. Ted has been receiving services since 1999 and enjoys a wide range of activities including golf, bowling and he is an Eagle Scout. He is an active member of his church where he is an usher, communion assistant and he participates in bible study, a men’s group and also helps make brail bibles for blind individuals!
Lowe’s has a history of employing individuals with disabilities and in 2005 SARC nominated Lowe’s for a NDEAM (National Disability Employment Awareness Month) Award. Lowe’s has proven to be an outstanding employer, demonstrating caring and compassion to individuals with developmental disabilities at the workplace through their flexibility and willingness to accommodate individuals who wish to be employed.
We salute Lowe’s for their continuous commitment to creating employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and look forward to working with them in the future. If you would like additional information about how to become a partner with Schenectady ARC’s New Direction’s Employment Services program, please contact Jill LaFlamme at 372-1160.
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