Allan is legally blind; he has 20% vision in his left eye and no vision in his right eye. He had to leave his 25-year career in the construction business as a result of his vision loss.
Now seeking employment, Allan approached the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (opens in a new window), who referred him to the Neil Squire Society. Once he joined the Fredericton office’s Working Together program, he was paired with a job developer to help him with his employment goals.
From Allan’s background, it became evident that he had a great love of people and a larger-than-life personality. He has a certificate in Massage Therapy and had owned a massage business for several years. However, he had closed his business when the market became too competitive.
The job developer determined that Allan was reliable, had good professional boundaries, and was a helper by nature. These character attributes, combined with his strong problem-solving ability and well-developed interpersonal skills, made him a great candidate for the right employer.
The job developer contacted an employer in the community who provides a variety of services for home care and for people recovering from an illness or injury in the hospital.
Allan was invited for an interview with the employer. He did well and was successful in landing the position. In preparation for his new job, he was provided with two sets of monoculars (opens in a new window) to allow him to read to clients and write his notes.
Allan states that employment makes him feel like he’s contributing to society once again and that he is very happy to be back in the workforce. He adds that he benefitted from many aspects of working with the Neil Squire Society, including resume and cover letter assistance, his research with the job developer, and the caring staff.
Allan achieved his goals because of his steadfast determination. We are thrilled for Allan as he begins this new chapter in his life.
The Working Together with Employers and Enhancing Employability
program is funded by the Government of Canada’s
Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities