>> >>: ATTENTION PRODUCE DEPARTMENT 202. >> >>DWANE: SO, CALVIN, HOW LONG HAVE YOU
WORKED HERE? >> >>: ONE YEAR.
>> >>DWANE: ONE YEAR? >> >>: FIVE/2111/11 IS WHEN I STARTED.
>> >>DWANE: WHAT'S THE JOB YOU LIKE TO DO THE MOST?
>> >>: I'M A JANITORIALÊ CLERK. >> >>DWANE: CALVIN HAS ASPERGERS SYNDROME,
A FORM OF AUTISM. AT 23 HE'S A BALL OF ENERGY WHO WORKS UP TO
28 HOURS A WEEK ALWAYS ON TIME, WITH A GREAT ATTITUDE.
SO WHERE ARE WE HEADED? >> >>: THE BAILER.
THE COMPACTER THE CORD BOARD SMASHER. >> >>DWANE: HE'S LEADING US TO ONE OF HIS
DAILY DUTIES, GETTING ALL THE STORE'S CARDBOARD READY FOR RECYCLING.
>> >>: YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THERE, PULL THIS DOWN ALL THE WAY, HIT YOUR
DOWN KEY DOWN, IT'S ON AUTO MODE. >> >>DWANE: CALVIN SAYS HE WOULD BE SIGHT
AT HOME WATCHING TV IF IT WASN'T FOR TMI OR TOWARDS THE MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE, THE SAN
DIEGO NON PROFIT INDUSTRY HAS PLACED CLIENTS WITH MAJOR EMPLOYERS SUCH AS VANS, HOME DEPOT
AND WALMART TO NAME A FEW. HUSHY IS THE DIRECTOR OF TMI.
>> >>: THE TRADITION IS TO ISOLATE PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN STATE HOSPITALS
OR OUR APPROACH IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN THAT. WE WANT FOLKS WITH DISABILITIES TO BE INTEGRATED
INTO THE LARGER COMMUNITY TO FEEL A PART OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY AND ACCEPTED BY IT.
>> >>DWANE: AFTER A YEAR ON THE JOB, CALVIN HASN'T ONLY BEEN ACCEPTED AT VANS, HE'S BEEN
PROMOTED TWICE. >> >>: HE IS DEFINITELY A SUPER STAR.
>> >>DWANE: DAWN SLATER IS THE STORE MANAGER. SHE SAYS HIRING CALVIN HAS BOOSTED MORALE
AT THIS STORE IN EL CAJON. >> >>: HE COMES IN AND ALWAYS JUST GOT THAT
GREAT ATTITUDE. >> >>DWANE: YOU COULD SAY HE'S DANCED HIS
WAY INTO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEEP HE COMES INTO CONTACT WITH.
LIKE DEBBIE NASH WHO'S ABOUT TO RETIRE IN NINE DAYS.
AFTER WORKING FOR THE SUPERMARKET 39 YEARS. LOOKS LIKE CALVIN COULD EASILY FOLLOW IN HER
FOOTSTEPS. TMI SAYS EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
HAVE LOWER TURNOVER RATES LIKE MOST NON PROFITS TMI HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF STATE CUT BACKS
AND HAS TO RELY MORE ON PRIVATE DONATIONS TO KEEP ITS OPERATION GOING.
