Rolando came to Connecticut from Jamaica with his wife and son. He registered as a client of BESB in 2016 after he was diagnosed with severe glaucoma and found his vision to be declining. In 2017 Rolando was referred to Vocational Rehabilitation Services for help with employment. Rolando was provided guidance and counseling, low vision services, and mobility training, as well job placement services done through Marrakech. At Marrakech, he was able to work on updating his resume and work skills, interview skills, and job readiness. When he was ready, they worked with him to find employment.
He interviewed and was offered several positions, however transportation continuously proved to be a barrier for him for those positions. He was then referred to the American Job Center (AJC) in New Haven. He attended the orientation and participated in workshops and recruitments through the AJC. When the Amazon warehouse opened in North Haven, he attended the Amazon workshop provided by the AJC, and attended the recruitment event as well. He was able to complete the online testing successfully because of the accessible computers in the New Haven AJC. After passing the test, he was immediately offered an interview.
Rolando started his new position as a full-time warehouse worker with all benefits, in August 2019. He was able to connect with the disability resource department at Amazon, which has been very supportive with accommodations. Rolando takes the bus that shuttles people from New Haven directly to and from the Amazon warehouse in North Haven, so transportation has not been a problem. The VR counselor has stayed in communication with Rolando since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and he reports that Amazon has been extremely careful with separating work stations so that no one is within 6 feet of each other. There are hand sanitizer stations all over the warehouse, and everyone is required to wear masks while at work. Rolando continues to be extremely happy with his new job at Amazon and plans to stay there until retirement.