Celestino: Stepping into a Meaningful Career

Celestino previously spent years searching for a job and struggled to even get interviews. But everything changed when Easterseals Southern California’s Employment Services entered the picture. Easterseals Customized Employment model was different than any other job placement program for people with disabilities that Celestino had worked with previously. He says Easterseals spent time getting to know his skills, talents, strengths, interests and searched for a company that would align with his wishes.

Celestino is now working a successful career as an electrical engineer at Western Train, a company that designs and builds custom trains and carousels for amusement parks and zoos throughout the country.

“Easterseals actually helped me by going into businesses, talking to people, and getting the first interview at least, which really helped me a lot,” said Celestino. “The Easterseals staff really supported me through the job process and actually finding jobs that I never knew were out there in the first place, which eventually did land me getting to Western Train.”

Stacey Vogliardo, Easterseals Vocational Specialist, has seen how this job has transformed Celestino’s life and says, “It’s just so cool to see the way he talks about what he’s doing. I mean, he’s so confident in everything he’s doing here. He’s honestly part of their family now.”

“I’m proud of the work I do because it fulfills what I really like to do in general with electrical engineering,” said Celestino. “It gives me independence to be able to actually afford paying down debts from before from when I didn’t have a job. It will allow me to pay off my student loans and be able to afford the house that I’m in right now and be able to afford things that I couldn’t really afford before.”

Learn more about Easterseals WorkFirst Employment Services, which provides customized one-on-one services for people with disabilities who are interested in entering or re-entering the workforce.