West Palm Beach Man Has a Clean Record
Albert Brewster amazes his boss and inspires his co-workers with his exceptional performance on the job. Equally impressive are his talents in art, music, mathematics, and memory. The young West Palm Beach man is considered to have autistic savant syndrome---a condition that co-exists with developmental disabilities such as autism. During October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Florida's Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) is putting the spotlight on Floridians like Brewster who have careers and fulfilling lives.
"Albert's amazing," said Maria Conde, a career resource specialist at Work Opportunities Unlimited in West Palm Beach, which provides him with supported employment services funded by APD. "He has this incredible memory. You never have to tell him anything twice. He's artistic---he paints and plays the guitar. He's very intense and very focused."
Brewster's unwavering concentration serves him well at a Wendy's restaurant in West Palm Beach, where he has worked for one year. As a dining room attendant, he keeps the restaurant sparkling clean. He also stocks the shelves and refrigerator and helps to unload the supply trucks.
"The benefit of having Albert as an employee cannot be understated," said Lenny Solano, the restaurant's general manager. "The customers are always approaching me about how clean the restaurant is. They say that they will drive out of their way to come here because they're more comfortable. At one time this restaurant was in last place in terms of productivity in the district. Now it's third in the district in overall performance. Albert contributes to our success in a significant way."
According to Solano, a team of Wendy's supervisors and managers recently performed an on-site evaluation of the restaurant and were thoroughly impressed with how clean and organized it is.
"The district manager thought that I hired a professional cleaning crew," recalled Solano. "I said, 'No, I have Albert!'"
Solano said that employers might need to spend a little extra time to accommodate the special needs of employees with disabilities, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.
"Albert is a real asset to my operation," Solano said. "I can always count on him to do his job, and do it well."
Solano recently increased Brewster's hours and gave him additional responsibilities, with the goal of moving him into food preparation.
"To other employers, I say, 'Take a chance,'" Solano advised. "Every employer has workforce issues. That's a given. Think of it this way. Albert is always here before me. He's meticulous. He's honest. He's diligent. He shows up ready to work. He's got a great work ethic and attitude, and he increases morale. What more could you want?"
APD supports people with developmental disabilities to live, learn, and work in their communities. For more information about the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, visit www.apdcares.org or call toll-free 1- 866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273).
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