Boy with Down syndrome uses social media to petition for job
As a mom of a child with Down syndrome, Lisa Quinn knows that finding a job can be a real struggle. But her 16-year-old son Addison was up to the challenge.
After helping him pen a letter describing his skills, she then posted the letter to her social channels in hopes that others would share and someone might offer Addison a chance.
The short, simple letter explains that Addison is 16 and that he’s looking for an hour or two of work on the weekends. He describes how he is good at “wiping tables, cleaning up and sweeping the floor,” and that he is capable of doing his own laundry, taking out the trash and feeding his dogs.
While the letter does address his difficulty with speech, it doesn’t outright say that he has Down syndrome.
Since posting the letter, Quinn has been overwhelmed by the response and job offers coming in for Addison from companies like McDonalds and Australian retailer Coles. Additionally, the call has served as an inspiration for other parents of kids with Down syndrome.
“Unfortunately I do not have a job for you Addison, but I would like to tell you about my son Adam,” wrote one commenter. “He is 30 years old now and has been working for 10 years at Hungry Jacks. He works 15 hours a week over 4 days, he too has some speech difficulties but that in no way impedes his ability to ‘flip’ burgers. Good luck young man, I am sure you will do well in life. To anyone who has a job for this eager young person, you will not be sorry I am sure, he has a winning smile and seems very eager.”
“As an employer, all I ever looked for is attitude. Addison has this in spades, so don’t give up and I hope his attitude is reflected in a job very soon,” commented another.
What do you think of this mom’s approach to helping her son get a job? Let us know by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.
