While to some, top performer may seem like a minor achievement, for many people with disabilities their whole lives have passed without ever being recognized for their contribution.
When a new shift begins, associates clock in and head to “Stand Up,” an area of the warehouse where managers go over daily announcements and celebrate top performers in front of their coworkers. For Mihret, who has worked for just over six months, Stand Up became a goal from day one.
Mihret, born in Ethiopia, is deaf yet does not know American or Universal Sign Language. English is her second language and this makes communication and connection difficult for her. Yet in June 2017, Mihret came into work and saw her name, written in big green letters. Mihret was awarded top performer. Two days later, Mihret achieved her goal yet again. In fact, that day, three out of the four top performer awards were given to associates placed by Northwest Center, all with diagnosed disabilities.
Mihret, born in Ethiopia, is deaf yet does not know American or Universal Sign Language. English is her second language and this makes communication and connection difficult for her. Yet in June 2017, Mihret came into work and saw her name, written in big green letters. Mihret was awarded top performer. Two days later, Mihret achieved her goal yet again. In fact, that day, three out of the four top performer awards were given to associates placed by Northwest Center, all with diagnosed disabilities.
While to some, top performer may seem like a minor achievement, for many people with disabilities their whole lives have passed without ever being recognized for their contribution. To Mihret, it was the culmination of six months of hard work proving that she belonged as a permanent employee. For her, this was a dream moment made real.
For the last 50 years, Northwest Center has served the Puget Sound as an innovative business partner that, like Mihret’s employer, has the courage to embrace bold new business paradigms. We offer employers highly qualified job candidates from a previously untapped segment of the population – people with disabilities. Month after month, we place more adults with disabilities into the workforce and our business partners, in turn, gain hard-working, loyal employees who share a common goal: to make a contribution to society. Learn more.
For the last 50 years, Northwest Center has served the Puget Sound as an innovative business partner that, like Mihret’s employer, has the courage to embrace bold new business paradigms. We offer employers highly qualified job candidates from a previously untapped segment of the population – people with disabilities. Month after month, we place more adults with disabilities into the workforce and our business partners, in turn, gain hard-working, loyal employees who share a common goal: to make a contribution to society. Learn more.
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