Lowe’s is Seeking Additional Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities for Employment Opportunities

Lowe’s is seeking additional individuals with intellectual disabilities for its new warehouse training program.

Lowe’s is looking to hire people with intellectual disabilities full time at their distribution center in Plainfield Conn. The hours of work are Mon – Thurs 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Individuals must provide their own transportation to and from the job. There are no buses available in this area. All applicants need to be able to handle heavy lifting, standing long periods of time, pass a drug test and criminal background check. Even old convictions count against them and will disqualify them.

Lowe’s is providing applicants with disabilities supports similar to those provided at Walgreen’s. There will be a 90 day probationary period where people with disabilities will be provided hands-on training by a job-coach from Quinebaug Valley ARC. The first 45 days the person will be on The ARC payroll and be paid $9.00. If they do well during this time period, they will then do 45 days trial period as a Lowe’s employee being paid $12.50. As long as they are doing well and making production levels by the end of the 90 days, they will become a full Lowe’s employee with benefits. A job coach from The ARC will be on-site the entire shift. The employees are required to perform the essential functions of the position themselves. The job coach will provide extra support to learn their positions, stay on task and handle social skills training.

Like Walgreen’s, this job will not be for everyone, but does provide a unique opportunity for people who are interested in this type of work and who have the qualifications to do the work. Please contact Robin Wood (info below) with names of individuals who may be interested in this opportunity.

Robin Wood
Director of Self Determination
Department of Developmental Services
460 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
Hartford Phone 860-418-6138
East Hartford Phone 860-263-2449

Congratulations to our 2010 Scholarship Receipients!

20 Connecticut high school students will be awarded more than $22,500 in scholarships for their post-secondary education on Friday, May 21 at the Connecticut State Capitol. We’re very proud to have awarded all of these deserving students and wish them the best in their future education and careers. After the ceremony, we’ll be posting photos from the day’s event. Many organizations helped make this year’s scholarships possible including CL&P and Yankee Gas, the Connecticut State University System, the Connecticut Community Colleges, Goodwin College and many state agencies. Special thanks also to Panera Bread for donating the event’s refreshments.

This year’s recipients are:

- Eric Clemente of Trumbull
- Nathaniel Book of W. Suffield
- Ryan Jones of Southbury
- Mark Redekas of Manchester
- Steven Celadon of Goshen
- Lauren Gomez of S. Meriden
- Kevin Dydyn of Newington
- Jennifer Green of Bethany
- Hannah Beer of Chaplin
- Felicia King of Hamden
- Samuel Chomet of Mystic
- Mark Selavka of Manchester
- Mark Feola of Milford
- James Van Beckum of Unionville
- Alejandro Cruz of Hartford
- Heather Thomas of Thomaston
- Adam Hunt of Portland
- Alexis Cortes of Hartford
- Christina Mazzatti of Southington
- Dana Ramanauskas of Cheshire