October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), celebrating the contributions of people with disabilities to the workplace. The theme for NDEAM 2024 is “Access to Good Jobs for All.”

Michele Gravel

Michele Gravel, Director of Employment Services, shares, “Springbrook is honored to provide employment services to over 100 people with disabilities across nine counties: Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tompkins, Tioga, Onondaga, and Oswego. To the more than 50 businesses and organizations that offer their unwavering support as proud employers of people with disabilities, THANK YOU for believing that people with disabilities are valuable employees with the skills and passion to be successful.”

We will be highlighting NDEAM by sharing stories of success and acknowledging the businesses that partner with people through Employment Services at Springbrook!

Check out the stories below!

Meg (left) and Rob (right) at Outback Steakhouse

Rob and Meg, both individuals who utilize employment services, have worked at Outback Steakhouse for eight years. They both love what they do, and it shows. They received the Employee of the Year award in their first year of working and are an excellent addition to the Outback Steakhouse team. Read more about Rob and Meg here.

Employment coach Erin Branigan (right) and Casia (left) at McDonalds 

Casia, who was the first person to enroll in employment services at Springbrook, celebrated her ten-year milestone this year. Casia started her journey with Springbrook when she was fifteen, beginning at The School at Springbrook. After graduating from The School at Springbrook, Casia enrolled in employment services in January 2014. Now, she works at McDonald’s two to three days a week. Casia is confident in her skills, impeccably maintaining the lobby and dining space, and shares that she “grew up in this job” and is proud to be a consistent and reliable employee. Read more about Casia here.

JR (left), Hannah (middle), and Tyrone (right) at the SPCA

As part of Springbrook’s Employment Services program, participants undergo pre-vocational training to learn job-readiness skills to prepare them for supported employment. Tyrone Lohr, a career coach at Springbrook who has been with the organization for almost 19 years, takes groups of employment services volunteers to different settings, like the SPCA. At the SPCA, volunteers help wherever needed but mainly focus on cleaning the “cat condos” and litter boxes, sweeping and mopping floors, folding laundry, and taking out garbage. JR and Hannah both enjoy cleaning, helping out, and being around the animals. They all encourage each other and debrief in real time to learn helpful tips to prepare them for job skills.

Kyle at Preferred Mutual

Kyle has worked in the mail room at Preferred Mutual in New Berlin since early 2023, where he folds and stuffs envelopes and uses the stamp machine to send out essential mailings. He knows everyone at the post office and would love to work for the U.S. Postal Service one day. Read more about Kyle here.

Chris in the Kitchen at Bassett

As the kitchen buzzes around him, Chris remains concentrated on his task at hand, preparing fruit parfaits for all of the hospital visitors, staff, and patients. Chris has worked at the Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, N.Y. for over 10 years, where he prepares grab-n-go snacks and meals for the hospital. Read more about Chris here.

Tom in the Kitchen at The Otesaga

With meticulous handiwork, Tom handles each dish, cup, and utensil with care. He has worked at The Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, N.Y. for over 10 years, where he manages and prepares all dishes for cleaning and sanitizing. Tom participated in the work-study program in high school and then started his journey through Springbrook’s Self-Directed Services program, which helped guide him into his current role in cleaning and sanitizing dishes in the industrial kitchen of the resort hotel. Read more about Tom here.

Thank You Business Partners!

Building Community. One Job at a Time.

At Springbrook, we are incredibly grateful for the businesses and organizations that partner with us to empower people through employment services. These partnerships help make meaningful, inclusive work opportunities possible for all. Your support fosters independence and growth for so many in our community.

A heartfelt thank you to the many businesses for being part of this vital mission. Your commitment to inclusive hiring practices helps create opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Together, we are building a more inclusive community, one job at a time.

Testimonals From Springbrook Employment Specialists