Program Participant Spotlight: Pierre Clarke, Supported Employment Program

*While Pierre was present for this interview, his father gave answers on his behalf.

How did Pierre find out about and get involved in BCS’s Supported Employment Program?

When he first left school, which was in Queens, they joined him up with BCS. One of the counselors there was able to get him a job at City Storage in Brooklyn, and he worked there for 17 years. He even got some certificates and so on from BCS for being a good worker. They used to have an annual appreciation there, and I know that after he did five years and seven years and so on, they would invite him down.

What got Pierre interested in this particular line of work?

Well, he always liked to clean at home, so that was one of the things that they taught him at BCS when he first joined them. And that’s how he was able to get the job at the warehouse in Brooklyn. He was also assigned to the executive office for the cleaning of the office there at City Storage.

What kind of training and support has Pierre gotten through BCS? 

They have classes there, and he did participate in that. That was when it was over at the other place—not at this present location. Pierre used to go there five days a week for the training. 

So, he’s not in the training anymore; he’s just fully employed now?

He’s not in training anymore. City Storage closed their facilities, and they laid off the staff that was there, but BCS was able to get Pierre a job at the school. So, he was working at the school there in Brooklyn, cleaning and wiping down the tables and so on and so forth. Then, they were all laid off from there. 

After that, BCS told him about this training through the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, so he did a six weeks course in that. He did four weeks in the classroom, and then he had to go to Manhattan to the OPWD office, and they did hands-on training where he did a whole lot of cleaning—bathrooms and everything. 

What does Pierre’s day to day look like right now? 

Well, since he did that course, he got a job at a new company. He works Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it’s been good so far. They like his work and everything. He does the restrooms and outside cleaning like sweeping.

And does he hope to continue doing this kind of work for a while? 

Yeah, he likes it. He even got a certificate from OPWD, where he had a graduation and everything.

What have been Pierre’s favorite parts of participating in this training?

Just getting to do the cleaning. And the instructors, they’re very good too.