WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — October is Disability Employment Awareness Month and to commemorate the month, we’re highlighting some talented workers here across the Tampa Bay area.
What You Need To Know
A Wesley Chapel prep cook is going above and beyond at work despite his disabilities
Jeremy Ross knew at a young age he wanted to work in the food industry and an opportunity knocked thanks, in part, to a disability employment service called ‘employU’
’employU’ is a non-profit, disability employment service, helping those with disabilities get in the workforce by offering employability training to make sure clients are job-ready
One employee is making a difference in the culinary industry in Pasco County.
For Jeremy Ross, the kitchen is where he is most comfortable.
“My slogan is trust and respect,” says Ross. “I just want a good work environment.”
For the last seven months, Ross has been working as a prep cook at Bubba’s 33 in Wesley Chapel. Chopping up lettuce and other varieties of vegetables.
“It’s good working for them. I can finally be myself when I’m working.”
Ross has ADHD and an intellectual impairment. But just because he has a disability, it doesn’t mean his work is impaired.
“He has a harder time learning how to do tasks,” says Catalina Fernandez, Jeremy’s mom. “More of your school life things like reading and math and things like that were always more difficult for him to process because of his disability.”
Ross learned of his love for the culinary arts in a special program in high school. A five-year culinary program at the Vaughn Occupational High School in Chicago.
“A high school that he went to in Chicago had a culinary program for our students, all of which were students with disabilities,” said Fernandez. “And he loved it.”
That passion for working with food followed Ross when he and his family moved to the Tampa Bay area. He found work at a local restaurant until they closed. But then an opportunity knocked at Bubba’s. Ross found the opportunity thanks to a disability employment service called ‘employU.’
“From the very beginning, we knew that we would hire him and bring him on just because he really grasped what he was doing right away,” said Abby Fletcher, manager at Bubba’s 33 in Wesley Chapel. “He worked really well with the management team and the other employees who were working cold prep.”
And now Ross can continue his pursuing his passion and love for cooking.
“It feels really good for me to do that because I always go to my serious work because I always have to focus on my work,” said Ross. “I’m going to do the best I can.”
Showing how nothing is holding him back.
’employU’ is a non-profit, disability employment service based in the Orlando area. Helping those with disabilities get in the workforce by offering employability training to make sure clients are job-ready. You can learn more about their adult employment services online here.
Dining and Cooking