Great Service!
Deaf2Work Minnesota Matches the
Right People with Great Jobs
by Beth DePoint
With a broad smile across
his face, Yoonis Warsame greets customers with a friendly Hello!
Those checking out at the Home Depot store in Burnsville immediately
notice a strong sense of service, or, as the company’s slogan
goes, “You can do it. We can help.” What
they may not at first realize, however, is that Warsame is deaf and reading their
lips.
Warsame came to the U.S. six years ago from Somalia and is still
learning American Sign Language (ASL). Some Home Depot customers
who are deaf seek him out when checking out.
Luke Harabor works as a freight handler in the receiving department
at the Home Depot store across town in northeast Minneapolis. Originally
from Romania, Harabor had several different kinds of jobs before
settling in Minneapolis and starting work at Home Depot in March
2006. His coworkers find him a hard-working, friendly guy who can
always be counted on to get the job done. They communicate with Harabor
using gestures, written notes and lip-reading.
Both men are part of an exciting new employment program called Deaf2Work
Minnesota. The program, which originated in the Atlanta area, joins
the local home improvement retailer with Rehabilitation Services
(RS) Office of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development (DEED) Deaf and Hard of Hearing unit. Together, they
recruit, hire and support men and women who are deaf and hard of
hearing in a wide range of employment positions throughout The Home
Depot stores.
Job placement, occupational communication, and follow-up support
specialists from the Minnesota Employment Center (MEC) work with
job seekers, assisting them in applying for jobs, offering on-site
job training, developing communication support services, and provideing
follow-up support services to help ensure successful employment.
MEC is an interagency collaborative job placement program with Rise,
Lifetrack Resources, Inc., and Rehab Services.
When Diane Acord, a rehabilitation counselor with Rehab Services
in St. Paul, first learned of the Atlanta-based Deaf2Work program,
she contacted Home Depot for more information. Confident the same
kind of program could work well in Minnesota, she put together a
formal proposal for The Home Depot to consider expanding it here.
Acord’s plan was
readily accepted, and in September, 2005, she began meeting with
area human resources managers. The first three people were hired
in February 2006. Today, fifteen local people have jobs, earning
competitive wages and (most) working full-time hours with benefits.
“The response from the store managers has been phenomenal,” said
Acord. “Every single one has been 100 percent behind the program.
They are willing to make accommodations when necessary and are eager
to keep people successfully employed. Coworkers, too, have been very
supportive.”
Of great benefit to
the employers is Deaf2Work’s recruitment
and screening of qualified candidates and its readily available consultation
staff. In addition to receiving compensation and benefits, the new
employees are becoming more self-confident from their success on
the job and appreciate the accommodations made for communication
and new staff training, noted Acord.
Now 21 years old, Warsame
had little formal education in Somalia and worked as a welder.
In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and says he is a “very good player.” Warsame,
who is learning both ASL and English, is teaching his new coworkers
sign language, too.
“I have a very good job and nice coworkers. They are my friends
and I like working with them. Kathy (Schumacher) helps me when I
need it.” After six months in his cashier’s position,
Warsame will have the opportunity to apply for other positions if
he chooses. A talented artist who enjoys oil painting, sculpture,
and sketching, Harabor fits in well with his friendly coworkers in
the shipping and receiving department.
With much to learn about his many job duties, Harabor initially
received some training directly from his coworkers. He also learned
a lot on his own and enjoys the fast pace and hard work of the 9-5
day shift. He recently took the test to become a U.S. citizen and
is awaiting the results.
All involved are currently
working to expand Deaf2-Work, both throughout Minnesota and in other
states. ![]()
