Consumer Success Stories

Through the PC/Microsoft training programs here, I learned software and a strong sense of professionalism. I had the computer service skills they were looking for, and I got the job.

-- P. J.
Fortune 1000 Company
The STEP program at Abilities, Inc. opened my eyes to the real world… I'm now equal to everyone else.

-- V. R.
Large Retail Chain
The Laboratory Assistant Training program taught me new skills and it gave me peace of mind that I was growing and changing… my goal in now on today.

-- J. R.
Clinical Laboratory
Distinguished guests, fellow graduates, ladies, and gentlemen. It is indeed a pleasure and a privilege to be here with you this evening.

Before coming to Abilities, I had worked for about ten years at an auto dealership and got injured on the job. I was in a lot of pain, got progressively worse, and had to stop working altogether.

It was at a Workers' Compensation hearing that I learned about and was referred to VESID. It was then that my counselor told me about this wonderful place called Abilities. I set up an appointment at the Center and liked it from the start. I could see that it was an environment that was one that specialized in working with people who had been injured and that would be good for me. I had visited other schools before, but they did not seem to understand injuries and what someone had gone through – or even what they might still need.

During the Intake process, I became enthused with the program. There seemed to be a structure to everything and there were set rules and procedures. I just loved that.

Coming to Abilities allowed me to realize my potential. I had become somewhat complacent on my other job, and I understood from the Intake Specialist that I would realize some of my potential that had remained hidden.

The training was very structured, and the Instructor in the Microsoft Office Specialist program was extremely professional and inspired me to become proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other programs. It made me want to come here every morning.

One day during practice interviews, I was interviewed by a large electronics firm. They liked my resume and the portfolio I had developed in class, and felt I interviewed well. They informed me about a Sales Representative position, and through the help of Abilities, an appointment was set up. At the interview, I was told that it was a difficult job. The interviewer tried to scare me. However, that did not work! The job was offered to me and I gratefully accepted. The company even made accommodations in my workstation, as a result of a Technical Evaluation I received at the Center. VESID also provided me with a special chair. These accommodations helped me to do my job well. Unfortunately, due to the economy, I lost this position. Nevertheless, I will always be grateful to the company for their support and consideration.

I was concerned about being out of a job, but I had confidence in the Center that they would come through with finding me something else. I had left the company on a Friday, and Monday morning, bright and early, I was at the Center actively working with my Placement Specialist, on updating my resume, preparing for new interviews, and making sure I stayed positive. By the time I reached home that evening, there was a message on my answering machine from a large investment firm in the area inviting me to come in for an interview. The early-morning interview went well, and by that afternoon, I was offered the job. I was truly elated!

Although I just recently started the job, it has made me feel confident that even in hard times, I can still succeed, especially with the help from Abilities. They have been such a valuable resource for me.

Work is invigorating and it is so important to be working again. My morale has been boosted at a time when I felt it would be difficult to find a position with such a reputable company where many opportunities, I know, will be made available to me.

My fellow graduates and students at Abilities, despite whatever difficulties, I have learned that you need to continually persevere.

I'm reminded of the words from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that were recently told to me by a friend:

The heights of great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight.
But they, while their companions slept
Were toiling upward in the night.

It says to me that I need to continue to work even harder and those words really inspire me. As the poem says, nothing in life comes easy. You have to work not only hard, but also work smart, to achieve.

I feel I can achieve so much with my life now, and I want the graduates to know that they can achieve and do well too.

Thank you, Abilities, for the opportunities you have given me. I'm honored and proud to be connected with you!

-- F. J.
"Success Among Us" Graduation Presentation
Each year, Abilities, Inc. recognizes and honors those individuals who successfully graduate from the full array of training programs offered. The following are excerpts from speeches of graduates who talk about the obstacles they overcame, their satisfaction with training and the successful jobs they then obtain.

I am very honored to be chosen as the Distinguished Graduate. I'm proud of myself and proud to be connected with the Center. And I am very happy to be here tonight.

Through VESID, I participated in Business Skills and then advanced to the Microsoft Office Class where I really worked on my computer skills. I had a lot of respect for my teacher, and he taught me well. I had fun with my classmates too, and I liked them as people. Everyone was great, and we helped each other as if we were in a business. My classmates gave me the encouragement that I could actually do something well. I got good grades, began to feel successful, and I said to myself, I can do this!

Teachers here really want you to learn something and they feel better if they know you're learning. It makes a difference to have teachers who really care, and not just hand you a book and leave you on your own.

During training, I had a practice interview at the bank where I now work and was offered an internship. I had a chance to do a little of everything in a business setting. I've now gone through intensive training, and I've learned how to treat the customers, and I know that if people are difficult, you can't take it personally. I also learned how to handle the different kinds of loans available, putting it all together with my computer and my personal skills. I was always given good feedback and I learned a lot.

On my job, I'm a Customer Service Rep. I handle all the auto loans, assist the customers with their accounts, and make sure they're happy with the service. What I like is that I work with great people, who are nice and so professional.

Every day I wake up, I'm so happy because work is like family, and the managers are always doing things to spice up the work environment and make people feel good about their jobs. The other people I work with have been great. We have lunch together and I really have made good friends on the job.

I learned from my internship at the bank that you can start small, but you can end up getting a lot more out of it than you ever imagined. I want the graduates to know they should take advantage of every opportunity, because you never know what might come up. I got where I am because I've worked hard, and I'm still working every day to achieve my goals. I've done well for myself but I keep growing.

My whole family is here tonight, and they've always given me support and told me I would succeed. They've been behind me, always, but especially my mother, who is so proud of me. Everyone here has given me courage – and knowing I had everyone behind me, made me know I could do it!

Thank you so much for this very special honor!

-- J. F.
When I was called about being on a panel of speakers for Graduation, I felt so privileged, and did not hesitate to accept this opportunity. So, I want to say I'm honored to be here today!

While receiving services at Catholic Charities, I saw a note on the wall about Abilities, Inc. and I decided to inquire about it. At the time, I was wondering where my life was headed. It seemed every attempt I made to pull things together did not work out, and I didn't feel good about myself. I came for a tour and started to feel that I was headed on the right track.

The Center gave me the confidence and skills that I needed and a strong sense of support. It's hard to put into words – they did so much. I found there were other people here too, from all walks of life, and it helped me to realize that I wasn't the only one looking to build skills and gain confidence at the same time. Through the Business Skills teachers, I refined my customer service skills, learned bookkeeping and improved my keyboarding. The trainers were wonderful and patient with me, and my case manager was so attentive. I also had an internship at a local hospital where I had a chance to refine a lot of my skills, like working on mail merges, filing, copying and faxing. The internship added to my sense of self worth and even though I wasn't paid, I knew it would go on my resume. Through training, I also met a lot of employers who would come on campus to interview and recruit, and that boosted my confidence too.

Abilities gave me the tools to do well on a job. I'm using all my people and office skills at a position at 1-800-Flowers right now. But my goal is to move into the corporate world. I'm currently taking more computer classes on my own to make myself even more marketable. I also have a good understanding of people, and I believe I can be an asset in an office setting.

Years ago, I remember my junior high school teacher thought I'd never even make it through college. But I did, and I keep working toward new goals and realizing new dreams every day!! I'm even planning to continue on for my Masters degree in Communications.

Through my own life's trials, I know that the human spirit can overcome anything with faith in oneself and in God. I've had obstacles in my way throughout my life. But when you feel like giving up, turn for help, and get up again.

I wish to be a symbol of hope of what a person can be, and to know that if you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything. I see myself as a Phoenix, rising up from the ashes and going forth again in the world as a new being!

Abilities has given me the confidence in myself I didn't think possible, and a light for my own, torch to carry into this world. I hope that I can now light the way for others to follow their dreams.

I am thankful to everyone at Abilities for helping me find this light--and in the process, find myself.

-- B. S.
Good evening everyone!

Before coming to the Center, I worked at a plant in Georgia as a lead man making parts for computers. I started to have some problems and my family moved away to New York. I missed them a lot and moved to New York too, but I wasn't ready to face my disease. I got a job working with an electrical wire company where I stayed for seven months, but I lost that job too because of my problems. In the next three months, I decided to go for help. That's when I went through a program at Nassau County Medical Center, and then a treatment program where they told me about VESID and the opportunity to go to school. VESID was very helpful, guided me and helped me make the best choice by coming to Abilities.

Coming to the Center was a gift because it showed me that I could still do things. Being in contact with all the others allowed me to see that my problems could be overcome. Just seeing other people, children and adults with disabilities and the challenges they faced, helped inspire me. My classmates let me know that no one is better than anyone else. They gave me the confidence and we were there for each other. Our teacher was wonderful. She was very understanding and supportive and she will always be close to my heart. My Job Developer, helped me to forget the negative things about myself and really emphasize the positive. She would say, there are too many good things about me that I should focus on.

I learned so much while I was here, and I realized I was still able to go to school and do well. Knowing that I wasn't alone anymore built my self-esteem and gave me the strength to continue to face my disease. It is 23 months that I am sober!! It is a journey without a destination and I need to continue on this road.

Today, I am the Manager of the Shipping and Receiving Department of a laboratory. I am responsible for logging in all the samples from soil and water from many different industries that come to us to be analyzed. What I like best about my job is that each day, there's something different. I'm learning more and more every day. Right now, I work with seven other people. We have a great relationship. We joke a lot, but we all work very hard, and there's no jealousy or envy among anyone.

Working gives me the desire to be an even more helpful person and to also move forward with my life. In my country of the Dominican Republic, I had attended medical school there and had almost finished. When I came to the Center, my love for science and getting involved with the medical field came back.

My job allows me to support myself, to be there for my family, to help them, and to be a responsible person. My daughter is the oldest of my children and we talk a lot. She's really happy with the things that I've done so far, and she gives me encouragement to keep going. She says she hopes to be a doctor someday.

My message to the graduates is it doesn't matter what disability you might have, you can always do better and show that you are honestly trying to do your best. Being honest is one of the greatest gifts you have.

I feel I know who I am today, and that I am able to face every day full of hope - that I can continue doing better, and have a wonderful life. Remember that success is measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.

-- J. D.
I want to thank Abilities, Inc. for giving me the drive to do well in the business world. Currently at my job, I have been promoted and even went on my first business trip. What a success! Abilities gave me the skills I needed in today’s business world, such as computer skills, telephone skills, and learning how to get along with other people.

Another aspect of the program that helped me was the practice interviews. It helped by pointing out to me what to do and not to do on a job interview. Abilities had a Career Fair and I was encouraged to go. One of the companies there spoke to me and a few months later, they called me for an interview. I got hired!

I used to take two buses to work, but now I drive back and forth to work everyday. It is nice to have that kind of independence. It is good to work and it makes my quality of life much better. I also now have my own apartment - another good thing.

A word of inspiration is to always have hope and never give up. If you work at things hard enough, they will come true.

-- T.S.

The People We Serve

If you have had any of the following disabilities or illnessess and are currently interested in becoming employed, either for the first time or after working for years, please contact us. You may have strong skills that can be transferred to a different career. us help you determine if you are eligible for services: (516) 465-1490.