Sean: I Am Able to Work

Sean Kluba is a donation attendant at the Goodwill Chinook Store and Donation Centre. Olympian and Goodwill Ambassador Cheryl Bernard talked to Sean as part of Goodwill’s I Am Able to Work campaign to mark Disability Employment Awareness Month-October.

Q&A Cheryl Bernard and Sean 

Sean how many years have you been working for Goodwill?

5 years or maybe 4.

What does your job look like every day…what do you do?

I work downstairs at the donation centre which means I do donations, someone brings something in and I put it in a bin. I also take care of the garbage.

What is your favorite thing about working with Goodwill?

Getting along with people, I like to get along with everybody and just talking to people, talking to donors, and just having fun.

What do you spend your money on?

Bands and drums because I play drums.

What does it mean to you to have job... to be able to work?

It is exciting because I never had a job like this before. Before working with Goodwill I used to work at a Yoga store but then they closed for renovation, so I was sitting at home and I wasn’t sure what to do. So finally I went to Columbia College and got to try working at Goodwill through Columbia College, it was fantastic and I loved it and I got the job at Goodwill Chinook.

Does having a job make you feel part of the community and included?

Yes I am happy I can get out of my house and do stuff.

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month in Canada, why do you think marking DEAM is important?

I think it’s important to get out there and get a job, you don’t want to be sitting at home all day what you should do is go to your computer find Goodwill and sign up to work for Goodwill.

And what would be your message to Calgary employers?

Hiring people with disability is a good thing because there is lots of disability around and you can never tell. I have Williams Syndrome it doesn’t bother me, I didn’t know until I was a kid and I was ok whatever, there is nothing I can do I was born with it.