Special workers employed at U.S. Open

Ranjit is a little nervous when he talks about starting his first job. “I’m nervous, but I want to do a good job,” said the 21-year-old. “I’m going to do a good job.”
He has Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism and had a lot to prove when he and nearly 80 others with developmental and learning disabilities began working at the U.S. Open tennis championship.
They have been hired by Levy Restaurants, a leading company in sports and entertainment dining throughout the country, to cater to the 650,000 guests of the US Open.
Ranjit and his colleagues are responsible for keeping the high-traffic food village sparkling for tennis fans when the two-week Grand Slam tournament begins on Monday, Aug. 27.
For the ninth consecutive year, graduates of YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities’ (YAI/NIPD) employment training programs will be relied upon to get the job done.
The group, which was founded as the “Young Adults’ Institute” 50 years ago, now helps those with autism-related problems, from new-born to adult.
According to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, 92 percent of people with developmental disabilities are unemployed. In New York State, 84 percent of people with a disability in a vocational or day program are unemployed.
The workers are employees of The Corporate Source, an agency developed to provide jobs for people with disabilities through outsourcing arrangements with government and the private sector.
Job coaches help to ensure that they understand their jobs and keep the food village immaculate and stocked with napkins, condiments and utensils. In some cases, workers may struggle with communication and social skills.
Role playing is helping these individuals grow more comfortable with what they may experience on the job.
“The food village requires a lot of attention to detail,” said Bill Wilson, Director of Operations for Levy Restaurants’ Sports & Entertainment Group. “You won’t find a harder working and focused work force to fill these jobs. They dedicate themselves to the job every day.”
“Businesses like Levy Restaurants view The Corporate Source as a valuable business solution,” said Michael Kramer, Director of The Corporate Source. “Our employment trainees are hard working, loyal and reliable and appreciate the opportunity to prove their abilities to work at such a high-profile and visible event.”
For many of the workers, the US Open is the rare venue where they can showcase their abilities.
Robert, 45, who also is on the autism spectrum, is excited to earn a paycheck for the first time. “It’s going to be exciting to have a job,” he said. “I really want to work.”