Life can change in an instant. Patrick Reed understands this better than anyone. In the aftermath of a workplace accident that left him blind, Patrick lost everything and struggled with depression and homelessness. He turned to the Florida Division of Blind Services, where he was directed to a job fair and found Global Connections to Employment (GCE), an AbilityOne program nonprofit that provides a wide range of employment opportunities for people who have a disability.
GCE gave Patrick a new lease on life. They’ve helped him learn how to live with his blindness and to understand that his disability doesn’t mean he’s stuck in one place. Patrick is a person with an amazing attitude who is driven to succeed.
Patrick’s colleagues and supervisors helped him thrive and gave him back his confidence. GCE provided him with training and support both in his role as a dishwasher and for meeting the challenges of daily life with a visual impairment. They worked with Patrick on getting to and from work, ensured his work schedule aligned with available public transit options, and provided him with constant support.
Patrick encourages others “to never give up and don’t get discouraged. Even if you’re thrown back to step one, just keep moving forward and don’t look back.” He is always looking to the future and is focused on learning everything he can about his job.
As Patrick continues to adapt and grow in his role with GCE he hopes to eventually become a supervisor or leader and, in turn, help others.
