ORLANDO, Fla. — October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and to recognize that, some organizations in the community are helping people reach their full potential. A young woman is thriving in her job in Orlando, thanks to a unique partnership.

What You Need To Know

  • October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and to recognize that, Spectrum News is showing how organizations in the community are helping people reach their full potential

  • Brooklin Califano works as a surgical supply tech at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, where she organizes and pulls medical supplies for surgeries

  • The We Build program allowed Califano to do a 12-week paid internship with Orlando Health, and that eventually led to a part-time job with the hospital

  • At OCA, or “Opportunity, Community and Ability’ in Orlando, classes teach people with unique abilities skills to help them excel in the workplace

Brooklin Califano works as a surgical supply tech at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, where she organizes and pulls medical supplies for surgeries.

“It makes me feel good, just doing all this stuff, picking, organizing, picking all of these cases and just keep doing it. I actually feel really good about it,” said Califano.

The job picture wasn’t always the easiest for Califano, who is facing a developmental disability. The We Build program allowed Califano to do a 12-week paid internship with Orlando Health, and that eventually led to a part-time job with the hospital. It’s a job she said she enjoys.

“And I thought I was never going to get this job, but I did, and I thought I’d never work in a hospital, but here I am,” said Califano.

The hospital and We Build Program Specialist Renee Pancoast are thrilled with Califano’s progress. 

“I’ve seen her in there catch mistakes and find things that maybe other people didn’t do,” said Pancoast. “She pays great attention to detail, she’s very disciplined, she’s very passionate, and I think her enthusiasm and just the fact that she feels so comfortable here. Just gives her that added measure of just being able to prove herself, and be independent and be successful.”

At OCA, or Opportunity, Community and Ability in Orlando, classes teach people with unique abilities skills to help them excel in the workplace. For example, in Califano’s case, her instructors believe a theater program helped her feel more comfortable communicating with others.

“Brooklin is able to project her voice and demonstrate her personality because she’s had to pretend to be other characters, she’s had to work outside the things that she knows and be successful through that theater program through music and dance and learning lines, and practicing,” said Margaret Thornton, OCA’s Co-founder and Chief Operation Officer.

Brooklin enjoyed sharing what she likes about her job.

“I would say picking all this stuff, and if I need help and I don’t know what to do, I can ask someone here,” said Califano. “And I can ask for help if I need it, which I do.”

It’s an opportunity that’s allowing Califano to realize her potential, and a promising future.