The Person Within the Wheelchair: Kia's Story

"They saw the person within the wheelchair, not the person in the wheelchair."

Kia, Goodwill Keystone Team Member

Kia works at the PennDOT Driver License Center through Goodwill Keystone's workforce partnership with Unique Source and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is her story, in her own words.

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Independent from the start

"I was told at the age of three that I had cerebral palsy, but that didn't stop my parents from treating me like everybody else. They taught me how to live independently, take care of myself, cook, clean. Anything you could think of that an able-bodied person can do, I can."

Kia moved out on her own at 17. For years, she worked three jobs at a time just to keep up, clocking in at 8 a.m., working until 2 p.m., then turning around for a second shift from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. "I was living check to check for a little bit," she says.

The day everything changed

Then Kia was offered full-time work taking photos for driver's licenses and IDs at the PennDOT Driver License Center in Lancaster, a role through Goodwill Keystone's workforce partnership.

"I actually got full-time, and that changed my life. I'm able to save now and pay my bills instead of living check to check."

"I cried when they gave me full time."

More than a job

"This job really does mean a lot to me. I always tell my managers, 'You guys changed my life.' It's not just a job for me. I feel like we're a family."

"Goodwill is a great company to work for. They show you so much respect. I wish everybody could experience a Goodwill job, or just an interaction with somebody from Goodwill, because it is actually really life-changing."

"Every day I talk to my best friend and I tell her, 'I wish you could work with me too, because they're a great company to work for. They give so many people opportunities where they think they're worthless. They saw the person within the wheelchair, not the person in the wheelchair.'"