Success Story

Night Shift Supervisor Overcomes Obstacles To Learning

 As a child, Paul's teachers told him that he couldn't learn - and he believed them. Today, thanks to Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries in Boston, Paul has not only proved that prediction wrong, but he is also supervising others as they learn the skills that he has come to master.

Along with an estimated 15-23 percent of adults living in the U.S. today, Paul is learning disabled. He is severely dyslexic and has difficulty processing language.

Paul spent several frustrating years in special education programs, then he dropped out of school with the equivalent of an eighth grade education. He found employment as a welder and construction worker at a family-run business. But when he lost that job, his lack of communication skills hindered his ability to apply and interview for a new one.

Finding himself out of work, Paul had to apply for public assistance in order to help make ends meet. The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission referred him to the Boston Goodwill for job training and placement. In the agency's building and maintenance training program, he learned how to perform basic housekeeping tasks, from trash removal to floor care, how to present himself for job interviews and how to work with others. Paul quickly mastered these skills, went on to learn other maintenance and janitorial skills, and was employed by the Goodwill as a custodian.

In 2000, Paul was promoted to his current full-time position as night shift supervisor for a Goodwill custodial contract at the Barnes Federal Building in Boston's South End. In addition to the building maintenance, he is responsible for tracking monthly supply orders and submitting weekly payroll time sheets. He manages a crew of seven, several of whom are not native English speakers. He shows a great deal of patience in communicating with his crew, and management credits Paul's abilities and enthusiasm with helping to reduce employee turnover.

“Paul is extremely loyal and has an excellent work ethic,” says Paul Brown, Director of Federal and Commercial Contracts for the Goodwill. “He has overcome many challenges with writing and reading skills to attain this supervisory position. Paul often surpasses his own job requirements and is very proactive, always striving to improve his skills.”

Paul says if he hadn't found Goodwill, he'd probably still be without a job. He has significantly reduced his dependence on public assistance. Goodwill also has helped him gain the confidence to improve his reading and writing. He has successfully completed a reading and writing comprehension course, and is learning basic computer skills. 

Source: Working! Fall 2003