Delta Comunity Living Society

• Home Sharing Providers Login
• Member Login
• Employee Login

Kristina, Diane and Al Land a Job with Clearly Contacts

Clearly Contacts, the world’s largest online retailer of vision care products, recently hired three people who attend DCLS’s Surrey Connections. Kristina, Diane and Al are all now working full-time as Shipping Specialists in the company’s Logistics Department.

One of six community-based locations throughout the DCLS service area, Surrey Connections provides a range of employment opportunities to participants, as well as hands-on training in life skills, communications, computers and employment retention.

For the past three years, Surrey Connections has been preparing shipping boxes under contract with Clearly Contacts. With their established working relationship, Surrey Connections staff approached the company’s management to determine if there was an opportunity for the people we support to work directly for the company.

After a positive response from Clearly Contacts, the staff at Surrey Connections went through a discovery process with the people they support to determine whose interests, values and ambitions best matched the opportunity. The company then provided a guided tour of their facility in Vancouver to 10 potential employees. The visit gave each person an opportunity to see how Clearly Contacts operated and to decide if the work suited their interests.

Prior to joining Clearly Contacts, Kristina worked at Little Caesar’s Pizza as a Shaker Board Holder. Although she liked her job, she was looking for a more challenging position with greater responsibility. Al and Diane worked at Surrey Connections in a group setting on contract-based jobs. Both wanted to participate more fully in their community and take on a position that was independent of DCLS.

Today Kristina, Diane and Al are full members of the Clearly Contacts logistics team. They receive an hourly wage and benefits and have the opportunity to participate in recreational activities with co-workers during their lunch breaks.

The Surrey Connections team continues to work one-on-one with each of these employees to improve their job retention skills. This includes ensuring that they can communicate effectively with their immediate supervisor. Open lines of communication and frequent personal contact between Surrey Connections and Clearly Contacts helps to ensure a quick resolution of any workplace challenges.

Surrey Connections reports that Kristina, Diane and Al are all adapting well to their new positions. In addition to providing a pay cheque and the opportunity to socialize with others and make new friends, the jobs have enhanced each individual’s sense of purpose and accomplishment, while fostering a positive self-image.

Most importantly, Kristina, Diane and Al’s positions provide a stable workplace and a regular income that enables all three to offset living expenses, or to simply purchase products they like.