Last Friday, Farmingdale State College’s Roosevelt Hall was host to Long Island’s largest job expo for job-seeking adults with disabilities. In partnership with ACLD, Life’s WORC, Skills Unlimited, Inc. and TRI, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) held their annual Talent Connection Job Expo.
This exceptional expo affords men and women with disabilities the opportunity to meet with recruiters from businesses of all kinds across Long Island and discuss their skills and abilities in the hopes of securing employment. More than 45 companies from fields like retail and health care to manufacturing and technology were present to offer summer positions, internships and full-time and part-time work.
“We’re really celebrating the success stories for those who have been employed, as well as creating opportunities for job seekers,” said Andrew Cohen, the vice president of employment services for FREE—a Long Island-based 501(c)(3). “The specific goal of today is for individuals with disabilities who are looking for employment, to match them up with employers and land some gainful employment opportunities.”
The expo expected to see about 200 adults in search of employment. Over the course of its 42-year history, through events like this and other initiatives, FREE has secured thousands of jobs for those individuals the nonprofit supports.
Diana Ruggiere began her journey with FREE this past March, and jumped at the chance to visit the expo and hand out her resume to prospective employers. Ruggiere, who is hoping to secure part-time retail work, said she is looking forward to learning new skills and staying focused on tasks she is given.
“I’m very proud of [Diana] and we’re going to look at some of the vendors together that are here, and we’re going to pass along her resume,” said Anthony Ciotti, an employment specialist with FREE who came to support Ruggiere on her job search. Ciotti commented that in the 10 years that he’s been in this line of work, he’s witnessed the confidence in those he supports only increase. “They’re very happy to have that first paycheck, they’re able to save money and buy things they like. It’s independence, it’s good for socialization skills. They always are telling me how happy they are at their jobs.”
As Ciotti has seen firsthand, perhaps one of the most important aspects of a job for an individual with a disability is the sense of independence it is able to provide them with. Josh Mirsky, a lead production assistant with the Port Washington-based custom apparel shop Spectrum Designs, attended the expo with Spectrum’s cofounder and CEO Patrick Bardsley. The duo served as keynote speakers to educate attendees about how to make employment for those with disabilities a success.
“I have a gift of being able to speak,” said Mirsky, who has autism. “Most people with my disability do not have that [gift]—they have a hard time speaking in general. So I come to these [types of events] to speak on their behalf, so I’m giving my coworkers who don’t have a voice, a voice because they deserve one.”
Spectrum Designs employs 40 people, 24 of whom are individuals with a disability, said Bardsley. The unique mission of Spectrum is to provide employment opportunities for those with disabilities; last year the company created an estimated 15,000 hours of paid employment for those individuals, according to Bardsley.
“That people with disabilities have a chance to feel the inherent self worth that we all get from working, that they feel part of a team, that they have a reason to get out of bed in the morning, that they valued and challenged and structure,” Bardsley said of the importance of providing jobs to those with disabilities.
As the expo was in action for an hour, job seekers browsed employers’ tables in the hopes of achieving what Mirsky has achieved through his employment.
“The paychecks and the independence,” said Mirsky of the primary benefits of the work he does. “I was able to pay for my own gas for the car, have my own apartment—it’s really let me go out on my own. I work with a couple of great friends there, and it just empowers you. As you move up in the company, your confidence goes up, so it’s really changed a lot. It’s not just money, its also a mental thing.”
