CONSCIENTIOUS WORKER — Raymond Cooper believes in punctuality and is already making strides at his job with Parkhurst Dining at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Raymond Cooper is the epitome of efficiency, making sure he punctually punches his timecard as he begins work at Parkhurst Dining at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Cooper has been working at the Antonian Dining Hall for the past year and is gaining recognition at the dish station, where he holds a key position during the afternoon shift. He secured the job with help from the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities Community Employment Services. Cooper embodies the spirit of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is celebrated every October by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. The theme for NDEAM 2025 is “Celebrating Value and Talent,” which emphasizes the contributions of American workers to workplaces and the economy, as well as their achievements both past and present.

The Steubenville resident received assistance through the CES, beginning with its pre-employment transition services. At the same time, he was still a teen and was part of the summer youth work program before obtaining his full-time position. Cooper was already knowledgeable of his role at Parkhurst and entered the job with ease.

“I came up with (the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School) three times a week, so I already had experience,” he explained, saying that he took part in the JVS’s Transition To Work program. “I’d been helping in the dish room and at the (TTW’s Soaring Eagle) school store.”

Cooper added that he enjoys his job and the people he meets along the way.

“It’s good. I keep busy all the time,” he continued.

CES Specialist Elyzabeth Grimm said Cooper worked his way through the system and has always shown promise as a steady and hard worker.

“He started with pre-ETS in 2023 and did a session of the summer youth program at Friendship Park,” Grimm said.

“He continued his pre-ETS during his senior year and did the program again after graduation.”

Cooper had conducted light maintenance work such as weeding and painting at the Smithfield-area park, and after graduating from Indian Creek High School last year, he completed another session at Aracoma Park in Mingo Junction, which included more light maintenance similar to his tasks in Smithfield. He also spent time at Bacon Ridge Farms near Bergholz learning about agriculture, from planting and harvesting to irrigation, fencing, and protection of crops. Through the program, youth ages 14-21 work three days a week in one of two sessions between June and August to build their job portfolio and experience as they prepare for future employment, plus they earn minimum wage.

Two weeks after completing the program, Cooper applied for a job at Parkhurst. Grimm said he underwent some temporary job coaching but was soon ready to work. Cooper explained that the experience helps him socialize and make friends, while he works with fellow JVS grads Matthew Tverbut and Logan Briggs and earns money to achieve his long-term goals of becoming financially stable and eventually buying a vehicle.

Grimm added that Parkhurst has been has long supported the CES program and its individuals.

“Parkhurst is an equal opportunity employer,” she added. “They have been wonderful.”

NDEAM began in 1945 as a weeklong national observance of the contributions of people with physical disabilities, then Congress designated its commemoration in 1988 as it evolved to acknowledge the importance of increasing opportunities for people with disabilities, including those with mental health conditions and other nonobvious disabilities, in the workforce. In 2001, ODEP was created and entrusted to administer NDEAM, including the selection and promotion of its annual theme. Leading up to the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, this year’s NDEAM theme will also honor the national milestone.