Having the ability to clearly remember something that happened fifteen years may seem out of context to some but to DOR consumer Carson he remembers it like it was yesterday. Carson feels that his disability is a part of him.

Carson: My name is Carson Guy Everett and I was born in San Francisco. I work at Lowe’s. At first I thought I’d be bored out of my mind because I’m not very good with mechanical things but luckily as a greeter I get to direct people to people who are. I also don’t have the best temper when I have broken something. Thank goodness I haven’t broken anything at Lowe’s yet.

My former job coach knew someone from Lowe’s and suggested I work there. I actually went online and looked at their employment part. How to apply told you how and then I did the application. Within a week or so they said you may come in and then I was interviewed. I passed with flying colors. They like having a diversity of people and are very diverse. The next step was to take the drug test and then when I took the drug test it was wonderful because I knew I was going to pass. Once I passed they said I may come in and then the next portion was the training part. And so I trained and did the modules. What do we do when someone screams at us? We have to stay calm under fire. The third step was working. So it was very easy and it wasn’t a hard process to get the job. And I’ve been employed since December 2016.

My experience with getting employed is Lowe’s didn’t have to accept me and they did. But on the other hand it’s sometimes harder for them to understand why I have a job coach because I actually come off normal. It’s not that I hide my disability I just don’t think of it as a disability. I think of it as a memory booster.

I’m not sure what’s my plans are after Lowe’s. I’m thinking about it. Now I’m sort of bitten by the bug of maybe party planning but we’ll see how that goes because I don’t think I could do it all alone and I don’t know anyone else who is interested in it. Let’s say I have a friend who does, not exactly party planning, but deals with costumers and makes events and puts them together. He mostly just drives and makes sure things are on time. He can’t do the social part as much as I can. Some people I know are very quiet and meek compared to my … loudness and enjoyment of life.