In the News

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Posted by Jamie Klinger-Krebs on Oct 1, 2012 10:55:00 AM

creighton1012October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. People with disabilities are a talented workforce, and many of these people work for Goodwill.

A disability doesn't hinder someone from being a productive and valuable employee. We've helped many people with disabilities find jobs - people like Creighton.

For Creighton, Goodwill has been the catalyst to making his dreams become a reality.

Creighton’s Mom, Toni Quinto, recalls Creighton having medical issues from the time he was a small child. While there is no official name for the issues he has, “his body is just put together differently,” she says. He has had several serious medical problems throughout his life that have required hospitalization and surgery. But through all of that difficulty he has always had a goal – to be independent.

The first big step for Creighton towards that independence was to get a job. He knew where he wanted to work right away, and he applied to the Delavan Goodwill Store & Donation Center. Creighton recalls the day they received the phone call that Creighton got the job. “I was so happy! It was the best day!”

Creighton began work in early 2008, and right away built a reputation for being a dedicated employee.  He is full of energy and eager to take on any tasks he’s asked to do. “Creighton is an inspiration to co-workers and customers alike,” says Dan Iselin, Delevan Store Manager.  “We always know we can count on him.”

Amazing things happened when Creighton began working. In nearly a year of employment at Goodwill, he has made significant improvements in his physical and emotional health. The confidence that his job at Goodwill has given him has also allowed him to move out of the assisted living program he was a part of, and into his own apartment. 

“His job has made him smarter and more responsible," says Creighton's mom. "When our family is together, he has work stories to share and contributes to the conversation in ways he was never able to do before. Creighton was able to take our whole family out for dinner, and I cannot tell you how proud he was. For many people, a job is something that pays the bills, but for Creighton, his job has meant independence.”

Creighton is proud of the goals he has accomplished so far, and has his sights set on achieving even more. “I wanted to get a job and have my own apartment, and I did it. Now I want to learn to drive, and someday I am going to buy my own car.” When asked how he feels about Goodwill, he smiles and says “Goodwill gave me a job, and my job gives me a great life.”


Goodwill trains people with disabilities to work in many industries.

Your donations help people with disabilities build a career. 

Goodwill generates opportunities for people to achieve economic stability and build strong families and vibrant communities by offering job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have a disability, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges. An employment resource for people with disabilities for decades, Goodwill job training programs benefited more than 287,000 people with disabilities in 2011 alone. That represents 6.8 percent of the more than 4.2 million people Goodwill helped in 2011.

National Statistics:

  • Adults age 21 to 64 with disabilities had a median monthly earnings of $1,961 compared with $2,724 for those without a disability. (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Of people with disabilities above the age of 16, only 21 percent are employed, compared to 70 percent of people without disabilities. (Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics as of September 2012)
  • Most employers report no cost or low cost for creating workplace accommodations for people with disabilities. According to the Job Accommodation Network, 57 percent said accommodations needed by employees and job applicants with disabilities cost absolutely nothing. (Job Accommodation Network, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy)
  • About 56.7 million Americans, 19 percent of the population, have a disability. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Topics: National Disability Employment Awareness Month, disabilites, disability awareness, Goodwill