ADA30 Significance in the Life of Featured LaRosa’s Team Member!

Lucy May, WCPO with Mark Kayes, LaRosa’s star employee

Mark Kayes has been successfully employed by LaRosa’s in its Guest Service Center for 15 years. As part of a series of spotlight stories regarding the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) being reported by Lucy May, WCPO, Mark’s story illustrates the importance of technology and accessibility in the workplace. Mark is a highly valued LaRosa’s Team Member and has very close ties with his colleagues at work. Over the years, LaRosa’s has made accommodations to allow Mark to excel at his job which his fellow Team Members fully support. LaRosa’s Vice President of HR, Steve Browne, is very complimentary of Mark’s skills and job performance: “Mark lives our “reach out and make smiles” service standard every day. He’s great with our Guests, he gets their orders right, and he does it all with a smile,” Browne said.

Ohio Valley Goodwill has been a part of Mark’s employment and training journey for many years and is elated at his continued success. Mark was initially part of the organization’s Computer Technology training program where he perfected his keyboarding techniques. He then worked with Employment Services   on finding his job; Assistive Technology support when he initially started and then, received   on-going job coaching.

The ADA showcase stories are part of a series of events planned by the ADA30 sponsor committee of which Ohio Valley Goodwill is a proud partner. To mark the historic 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Goodwill in cooperation with Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities (HCDDS), the Center for Independent Living Options (CILO), the City of Cincinnati, Council on Aging, EasterSeals and Metro as well as community advocates all worked together to present the series of virtual events.   Upcoming in the series of July events, is an Inclusivity Panel discussion being led by Kevin Flynn on Thursday, July 16th at 1 pm.   Featured panelists include: Erin Rolfes, Corporate Affairs Manager, Kroger; Paula Brehm-Heeger, Director, Cincinnati Public Library; and Heidi Pettyjohn; Executive Director for Accessibility, University of Cincinnati. The purpose of this year’s ADA30 celebration is not only to focus on the progress that has been made over the past 30 years but also, to forecast the future in terms of of inclusion and accessibility.

As a human service organization which has been committed to helping people with disabilities to achieve personal success for over a century in the Greater Cincinnati community,   Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries is pleased to be a sponsor for this year’s event in cooperation with HCDDS, CILO, the City of Cincinnati and other participating agencies and advocates. Our most sincere gratitude to Mark Kayes, Mark’s family, LaRosa’s, Lucy May and Steve Browne for their support of this important ADA30 story. Congratulations to Mark on his employment success! We look forward to the airing of the finished interview on WCPO later this month.

For more information about ADA30, please visit http://hamiltondds.org/ada30