@benjmcintosh: THIS UPDATE HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING!!! Anyway, like I say in the reel, I could not be more proud of how far Zac has come in his employment journey. I remember his anxiety about starting at Bunnings presenting through a show of disinterest. But over the course of a few months, being right by his side, he built his confidence up enough for me to start taking steps back and showing faith in his ability to work independently. Of course, with any job, with any human being, there are going to be off days. That’s just a part of life. Why would someone with Down Syndrome be any different? This is where, over time, I’ve found his fellow team members have been so incredibly supportive. It can be a daunting prospect, having a coworker with a disability. ESPECIALLY if you’ve never been around someone with a disability before. I think what helped them was their open-mindedness, witnessing Zac’s capabilities first hand, and crucially, seeing how I would interact with Zac, really assisted in their understanding of how to work alongside him. Now not everyone is going to be perfect right out of the gate, but as long as there’s a willingness to learn, I truly believe working with someone like Zac can be really rewarding. I went from being with him at work for every hour of every shift, to now just picking him up on occasion. The change I see in Zac, the enjoyment he brings to his team members around him, and to you, the customer, isn’t something that any sort of KPI can calculate. But I know, in my heart. That there is an intrinsic value that he is adding there that has the potential to really influence a lot of people’s lives. I’ve had parents message me over the course of the last couple years and say that by watching my videos and seeing what my Sister and Zac are doing with their lives, they have a new found hope for the future of their children. I know that by seeing Zac perform his role at @Bunnings with the help of his fantastic Team Members, he can continue to be that role model for other similar people in the community. I’m so proud of you Zac. #ndis #ndisgoals #supportworker #specialcise #downsyndrome

Ben McIntosh

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Region: AU

Sunday 17 December 2023 20:27:22 GMT