October 11 – Vasilios (Billy) Chatzistamatis (NDEAM Success Story)

Celebrating Our Successes!

Reflecting the important role that different perspectives play in workforce success, this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.” Observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents.

The Philadelphia “Employment 1st, Employment NOW!” Steering Committee is celebrating this year’s event with a month of employment success stories. Each day you will be receiving an email containing a new story about someone who is contributing to their community through employment. We invite you to join us as we celebrate their successes!

Being Responsible…

Vasilios (Billy) Chatzistamatis lives with his aunt. Billy is a very independent individual, managing his own medical appointments and job responsibilities. He is also responsible for things at home. He helps with his younger cousins a lot, such as meeting them at school to walk them home and make snacks for them.

Having a job and earning money for himself has always been important to Billy. Currently he works part-time at Marshalls.  Billy is an extremely hard worker who goes above and beyond at his job.  He does not need much on-the-job support at this point, only when it comes to speaking up for himself: Specifically saying no to additional shifts.  He always wants to help a co-worker when asked. He recently started dating someone, and hopes they will one day be able to live in an apartment together with the help of the money he is saving.

~ Submitted by Quality Progressions