Darrel Griffin knows the power of giving someone a chance. Griffin, who has served as warehouse assistant at Sunnyland Outdoor Living in Texas, was approached by the store’s owner to oversee two new employees joining the Sunnyland team as part of the Richardson Independent School District transition program.
The program gives special education students the opportunity to get on-the-job training and experience at local businesses through a semester-long internship. Each student has an on-site job coach to help them navigate the ins and outs of the business they’re working for. And at Sunnyland, Griffin was the natural choice to serve in that role.
“With me everything comes with understanding and patience because we’re all different,” he said. “I’ve been where they are in the past—years ago I went through special education and grew out of it—so my understanding was there.”
Sunnyland welcomed two students—Edwin and Giovanni—to their store for the spring semester this year. The students assisted throughout the store, cleaning, helping maintain furniture on the showroom floor and even assisting Griffin with customer service.
While they worked, the students also picked up valuable basic skills that will help them in future employment, and they got to experience the satisfaction of being part of a close-knit team working toward a common goal.
“Their enthusiasm for being here working is awesome,” said Griffin. “And them going out in fields somewhere else and in another workplace, they’d be a major asset to their employer.”
Griffin said he’s grateful that Sunnyland not only participated in this program, but that they allowed him to have such a pivotal role in the future success of these students.
“Everybody is different and everybody deserves a chance,” he said. “My attitude is it’s not always about me, and I love making a difference. I’m just excited to see them each day—it just does my soul good.”
