Frontline workers share their stories with state legislators

By JACOB MARROCCO

The latest installment of “Take Your Legislator to Work” put the focus on employees with developmental disabilities working on the front lines during the coronavirus crisis.

The event – which is sponsored by the Rhode Island Association of People Supporting Employment and the Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council – is aimed at asking “employees with disabilities to invite their legislator(s) to visit their workplace to show first-hand the power of community-integrated employment for people with disabilities.”

Since the pandemic prevented a face-to-face meeting, legislators, support workers and employees took to Zoom to dive into their experiences helping the most vulnerable. Kiernan O’Donnell of the Fogarty Center moderated the call, first introducing the several elected officials who had joined the conversation – Congressman David Cicilline, Rep. Joseph McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston), Rep. Katherine Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence), Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton) and Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown).

A representative from Congressman Jim Langevin was on the line, and O’Donnell said Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse were supposed to join but instead got summoned to Washington D.C., for the COVID-19 Taskforce at the last minute.

O’Donnell and the legislators had the opportunity to chat with three employees, including Cassiana at Cherry Hill Manor in Johnston. As her supervisor Tara Brosnan told the participants, Cassiana was hired right as the rehabilitation center was closed to visitors.

Cassiana works mainly with laundry, but she also cleans on the second floor and wipes down high-volume surfaces such as elevator buttons.

“Cassie was hired directly when this whole thing hit,” Brosnan said. “She went to our orientation when [the state mandated] no visitors at nursing homes, and she said, ‘All right, I’m going to go to orientation. Here we go.’”

McNamara asked Cassiana if she enjoyed folding laundry prior to her job at Cherry Hill Manor, to which she responded in the affirmative. McNamara then told the group the story of how his grandmother immigrated to the United States from Cork, Ireland, working as a linen maid for a very wealthy family in New York that had a summer home in Newport.

“I took a tour last summer of one of our Newport mansions, they said that the linen maids worked in the boiler room,” McNamara said. “Anyone that has that type of expertise in folding and takes pride in the job of taking care of linens is very, very important and that’s the reason I’m in this country. I had a grandmother who worked with fine linens and she came to this country to do exactly what you're doing. There’s a lot of pride in that work and nursing home patients are very lucky to have you.”

The panel also had a chance to hear from Nicholas at Whole Foods in Providence, who was “anxiously watching the clock” as he devoted some of his break to chatting with legislators. It also happened to be his birthday, as participants were all sure to wish him well.

“I get orders off of the work phone that they provide me and then I go around the store looking for items that people ordered,” Nicholas, who worked with Project SEARCH in Cranston last year, said.

For four hours, Nicholas scans the store and assembles his order, which a delivery driver then picks up. Legislators lauded his work playing a key role to keep people safe.

“You’re a professional shopper, I really admire that skill and talent,” McNamara said.

“The work you’re doing is absolutely helping,” Cicilline said. “It saves people’s lives and keeps people healthy and thank you for doing it and thank you for being so great at it.”

Mike from Shaw’s in East Providence was also given the floor, speaking as he battled blustery winds near a carriage corral during his shift. He made sure to acknowledge the stock of masks and gloves Shaw’s provides to keep himself, patrons and other workers safe.

Mike told the team that he is proud of his work, and that he loves talking to customers. He’s worked at Shaw’s since August and proudly confirmed he has yet to call out sick.

“Representing Warwick and Cranston, we have the Shaw’s on Warwick Avenue and that Shaw’s employs several individuals from the developmental disabilities community and I know most of them,” McNamara said. “They’re absolutely wonderful workers and as a customer I appreciate it. Plus it’s a great job for the young people, and they’re always smiling, courteous and enthusiastic.”

Kevin Nerney, the executive director of the RIDDC, spoke after the employees all had a chance to tell their story. Nerney said that these employees are being “active members of their community and not just helping their community, but the whole state.”

“We see that when we get the supports that they need, and they are empowered to live the life that they want to live, the results are really amazing,” he said.