KENNEWICK, Wash. – October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time for employers to learn and reflect.
In Kennewick, the Columbia Ability Alliance (CAA) is connecting people with disabilities to life-changing opportunities.
Elliott Souza, who has glaucoma, has faced challenges since birth. He cannot see out of his left eye and has only 5% vision in his right eye. “It was hard for me to ask for help because I didn’t think anyone wanted to help me,” Souza said.
For many years, Souza felt held back and believed he was dealt a bad hand in life. That changed when a friend put him in contact with CAA. The organization encouraged him to apply for work and venture into the unknown.
“I was always afraid when I didn’t know what to expect,” Souza said. “But pushing through that, someone told me, a smart person told me before that if you’re not feeling, you’re not trying.”
Michael Novakovich, president and CEO of CAA, explained that the program benefits both clients and employers. “Our clients are excited to have these jobs,” Novakovich said. “They invest in the environment. They make others feel special. We think that we’re welcoming them in, they’re welcoming us. And we see positive morale. We see workplace culture enhanced.”
Novakovich addressed common misconceptions employers may have. “We want to break down some myths,” he said. “There might be an expectation that you’re going to have to provide a great deal of accommodations, which is typically not the case at all. But you can welcome in an individual, have huge impact, again, on an individual’s life, but it impacts the business and it impacts our community.”
Souza’s journey is a testament to facing fears and finding purpose. “I’m actually doing something with my life,” Souza said. “I’m actually moving forward because those are my goals; to actually be able to provide for my family and help myself. You know, I want to help others, but I can’t help others until I help myself first.”
With the support of loved ones, each step forward becomes a little easier. “They mean the world to those kids,” Souza said. “My nieces and nephew and Bailey. They mean the world to me and my girlfriend with the strong support… Go out there, chase your dreams, reach your goals.”
If you would like to learn more about the Columbia Ability Alliance you can visit their website.
