Celebrating Disability Employment Awareness Month with Sobeys employee and Special Olympics athlete, Carly Bryden

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month and we are celebrating inclusion in the workplace by hearing from Special Olympics Ontario athlete, Carly Bryden. Special Olympics Canada has been fortunate to partner with Empire Company Limited (Sobeys Inc.) since 2016, raising funds and advocating for inclusivity across Canada.

Meet Carly bryden:

What sport do you participate in with Special Olympics?

I currently participate in swimming and rhythmic gymnastics. I have also done soccer, baseball, basketball, bocce.

Where are you employed?

I work at Sobeys in Aurora, Ontario. 

How long have you worked there? 

I have worked there since 2016!

What is your favourite part about your job?

My favourite parts of my job are being part of a team, making money and doing an important thing to help Sobeys.

Have any skills or values you’ve learned at Special Olympics helped you succeed at your job?

I have learned how to work on a team and do things together to be successful. Listening to a leader who teaches me something and then follow those instructions the best I can.

I was very proud when I was asked to represent Sobeys and Special Olympics in an interview with Kate Beirness on TSN.

Why is inclusion in the workplace important?

People with disabilities are people too. We want to be included and engage in meaningful activities. Once we learn how to do a task, we can be very good, dependable employees.

What advice would you give to employers about hiring individuals with intellectual and development disabilities? 

Have some patience and give us a chance. We can do lots of things and be good employees to make your business better. We just need to be given a chance to do so.