BY MICHAEL CIFALDI, VR REHABILITATION ENGINEER AND PHILIP WOODWARD, DHHS OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

Maria DeGance is working at a comfortable height now following efforts of a Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services engineer who designed and built a six-inch high platform from which Degance, who stands 4-feet, 9-inches, can comfortably do her job as a cashier at a Target store in western North Carolina.

Standing on the floor to do her job had been causing discomfort in her shoulders when she was at the cashier station.

Michael Cifaldi, a DVRS rehabilitation engineer in Asheville, built an elevated platform to provide DeGance improved access to the scanner, bags, keyboard and other check-out features. The platform needed to be lightweight for her to assemble and disassemble, collapsible for storage, contain fall prevention safeguards, and finished with a coat of Target red paint.

Maria’s story and Target’s cooperation illustrate how providing accommodations for an employee with a disability can be simple and cost-effective. 

A simple and effective accommodation can provide an employee with equal access and the opportunity to contribute to the employer’s/company’s success. DHHS takes pride in collaborative efforts such as this one between a VR client, a VR counselor, a VR rehabilitation engineer and an employer.

The photos show:

A standard check-out counter at Target.

The platform that the rehabilitation engineer constructed.

The finished product.

DeGance using the completed installation.

Maria’s story and Target’s cooperation illustrate how providing accommodations for an employee with a disability can be simple and cost-effective. A simple and effective accommodation can provide an employee with equal access and the opportunity to contribute to the employer’s/company’s success. The Department takes pride in collaborative efforts such as this one between a VR client, a VR counselor, a VR Rehabilitation Engineer and an employer.