Meet John, Wegman’s Employee
For fourteen years, John has been a familiar face, carefully stocking the produce and making sure the bananas look just right. He takes pride in his work, and it shows.
This fall, John added something new to his schedule.
John just completed Integrate For Good’s Opening Doors on Campus program at Ursinus College. Over the semester, he built confidence and practiced skills including initiation, problem-solving, and goal-setting. These skills support success at work and confidence in everyday life. On campus, John is a learner, a peer, and part of a college community.
A few weeks ago, I ran into John while shopping at Wegmans. After introducing him to my daughter, we started down the next aisle. Then I heard him call out, “Hey, Bev. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
He confidently introduced me to a fellow co-worker and said, “This is Bev. We’re in a program together at Ursinus College.” I watched the moment land. His teammate’s expression shifted from surprise to genuine admiration. “Wow, man. That’s awesome,” he said.
In that moment, John became so much more than the person who stocks the bananas.
“This is what I see again and again through Integrate for Good. People with disabilities are often underestimated by others and sometimes by themselves. Then we create opportunities to learn, grow, and belong in meaningful community settings like a college campus, something shifts. People begin to see themselves differently, and the world starts to see them differently, too.” – Dr. Bev Weinberg, Founder of Integrate For Good
