Matthew with a few Home Hardware associates

By: Matthew Da Costa, Robert F. Hall Catholic SS, Dufferin-Peel Catholic DSB                           (adapted from Ontario Cooperative Education Association April 2011)   I am currently a co-op student working at the Home Hardware in Bolton, Ontario. I am not able to walk due to a motor skill disability that also affects my speech.   I use a power wheelchair to move around and a communication device along with my speech so that people can understand me. People who see me in a wheelchair are often afraid to talk to me, but I am very social and love to be around others. What they don’t know is that aside from my motor disability, I am still normal. I can hear and understand everything and am capable of doing things but in other ways, and, with some limitations. People see the equipment and a disability, not the person … ME. I want to be able to do things and be treated like everyone else.   At my co-op placement I have been able to slowly teach my co-workers and the customers that I can help them and that it is okay to ask questions. My co-workers have learned how my communication device works and when they cannot understand me, I type a message that they can read or hear. The workers and customers are becoming more comfortable with this form of communication to the point where they now watch me type to figure out what I am trying to say. I work by adapting the way things are done or by doing what I can. I surprise people all the time and always like to challenge myself. Some of my duties include, shelving returns, zoning, restocking, dusting, customer service, and assisting my co-workers whenever possible. By working at my co-op placement I found that first impressions can be deceiving.   I love my co-op placement at Home Hardware and have felt very welcomed. The people are so friendly, helpful, patient, and understanding. This has been a win/win situation as I have been able to learn various tasks and I think that the staff at Home Hardware has learned from me. Co-op has taught me that you can work with great people and enjoy what you do.