When Sean was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2016, it had a huge impact on his life and career.
But, some help from APM’s Employment Services, the Disability Employment Services (DES) program, and an understanding new employer have created a win-win for everyone.
Sean explained the challenges of working with Crohn’s.
“With Crohn's, you feel like you're constantly tethered to a bathroom. It causes great anxiety for a lot of people trying to hold down any type of work in general was quite difficult.”
Sean’s employer at the time wasn’t as understanding, and he wasn’t happy there.
So when he came to APM for help, they focused on transitioning him to an employer that suited his needs better.
“APM made it very easy for me to approach that because they were like, give us your information, we'll help you put a resume together, we'll help you find a job,” Sean said.
“And then once I had that resume together, everything kind of just started clicking and falling into place for me.”
One half of APM’s role is working with a job seeker so they become a successful DES participant, and the other half is connecting with employers and finding the right position for them.
Amelia, Sean’s Employment Consultant, began approaching local employers and quickly found a great fit with Geoff, the owner of a print and design company.
“Sean had done a diploma in graphic design, it was in an area we thought that he would want to work in and Geoff also had an understanding of the struggles that Sean was facing day-to-day,” said Amelia.
It was perfect for Sean as it suited his skillset and addressed his barriers by providing close access to a bathroom.
Sean also suited Geoff’s needs and overcame a significant challenge of finding good people in a regional area.
“In the small country area here, finding suitable staff, suitably qualified staff is always an issue,” Geoff said.
“To have someone come into town that had the skill set we were specifically looking for… He's made such a significant benefit to the business, and he's picked it up so quick. It's been wonderful.”
Unsurprisingly, Sean is so appreciative of the help and support he has received.
“Anybody who has a medical condition or a disability or anything that can basically act as a barrier for them entering the workforce.
“APM will make that transition so much easier, and I would recommend it to anybody.”