National Disability Employment Awareness month is a time to highlight individuals with disabilities who are going above and beyond in their professional life. One such person is Cameron “Cam” Santos, a graduate of Living Resources’ College Experience Program, and he is thriving in his career and his community. Today, Cam lives in Albany, NY and works for the New York State Messenger Service in the Legislative Office Building at the New York State Capitol.
As a part of his job, Cam delivers messages to three different buildings inside the Capitol. He loves getting to meet new people and describes his coworkers as welcoming and supportive. This career shift has brought him joy and confidence, following earlier roles in foodservice and a retail internship.
Of the opportunities he’s had, Cam says he likes working for the Messenger Service the best because he gets to meet a lot of really interesting people throughout his day. His supervisor, Beth Bonesteel, shared that Cam first came to the Messenger Service as an apprentice and “he has worked out marvelously!”
When he’s not at work, Cam enjoys hanging out with his roommate and friends, listening to music and watching movies together.
Cam isn’t the only Living Resources participant building a career at the NYS Messenger Service. Kadija has worked for the messenger service for 11 years and Kathleen has been part of the team for 14 years. Both shared that they love the atmosphere and the people they work with. Their experiences, along with Cam’s, highlight just how powerful an inclusive workplace can be.
At Living Resources, we believe that meaningful employment is key to independence, dignity, and belonging. The Legislative Messenger Service exemplifies this belief by fostering an environment where individuals of all abilities can succeed. This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we thank them for setting a model of inclusion for employers across New York State.