Northern Kentucky employers and community organizations are collaborating in order to help people with disabilities get hired in the region.
The Zembrodt Education Center, located at Point/Arc in Covington, held its first job fair for people with disabilities. Amazon, one of the largest employers in Northern Kentucky, worked together with Point/Arc to organize the job fair.
Michael Clarkson, 20, from Independence, said he was excited to fill out his job application. Clarkson previously worked at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati.
“I wanted to work at Amazon because I think it will be a good fit,” Clarkson said. “I like to be on time. I don’t like to be late, and I like to stay busy.”
Brandon Releford, the executive director of education at the Zembrodt Education Center, said the job fair was a tremendous success.
“Amazon offered to come and interview anyone with a disability,” Releford said. “They can fill out an application. They’re interviewing on the spot, looking at their resumes, etc. They’re talking to them about what jobs are available. Basically, pretty much just figuring out what they want to do.”
Releford said more than a dozen people came through the Zembrodt Education Center to fill out job applications and receive information regarding different positions. Representatives from Amazon told LINK nky the company was hiring for positions such as sorter.
Amazon’s People with Disabilities program states on its website that the company is committed to supporting hiring and supporting employees with mental and physical disabilities.
The Zembrodt Education Center is planning on organizing more hiring events throughout the duration of 2022, according to Releford.
“We have individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities come through here,” Releford said. “Our goal is to see them succeed vocationally, socially, residentially, and we want to see them gain employment. It’s exciting to see them come here.”