For National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), TAC is celebrating the value and talent people with disabilities bring to the workplace, and the opportunities that allow those talents to grow.
Luke’s nearly two-decade career at TAC is a powerful example.
When Luke joined TAC in 2007, he started in an entry-level position. Today, he is the Supervisor of Cargo Net Repair, leading a team, training employees and taking on responsibilities he may not have imagined when he first walked through TAC’s doors.
But Luke’s story is about more than promotions. It is about becoming more confident in his abilities, learning to trust himself as a leader and building a life through meaningful employment.
“I Realized I Can Do More”
Luke initially worked in another department at TAC, but within a few months, he pursued an opportunity in Cargo Net Repair. He knew it was where he wanted to build his career, even though the work initially felt overwhelming.
“What did I get myself into?” Luke remembers thinking.
He kept learning.
Luke developed new skills, took on different responsibilities, and became someone his coworkers could turn to for help. Each new challenge brought greater confidence.
“Once I got used to it, I realized I can do more,” Luke said.
That realization became a theme throughout his career.
Luke progressed from an entry-level employee to apprentice, associate, Team Lead, and eventually Supervisor. Along the way, he learned that he wasn't limited to simply doing his own job well. He could teach others, make decisions, solve problems, and lead.
Learning to Lead
Luke didn't wait for someone else to tell him he could be a leader.
When he saw that his department needed someone to step up and provide more day-to-day leadership, he spoke with management.
“We need someone to step up and be in charge,” he said.
Luke believed he was ready.
Today, leadership means much more to him than assigning work. Luke has learned to recognize the strengths of the people around him and understand that everyone may need something different to succeed.
If someone is struggling, he works beside them. He answers questions, trains new employees, and considers each person's strengths when determining where they can be most successful.
“I’m very easygoing. I answer any questions, and I’m always there to help,” Luke said.
His manager, Chad, has watched that confidence develop over the years.
“One of Luke’s biggest areas of growth has been his confidence in his own decision-making,” Chad shared. “Earlier in his career, Luke would question whether he was making the right decision. Over the past few years, he has made significant progress in trusting his knowledge, experience, and judgment.”
For Luke, that may be one of the most important parts of becoming a leader: learning to trust himself.
Growth Beyond the Workplace
The confidence and independence Luke has built through his career haven't stopped when he leaves work. Over the years, Luke has accomplished goals that are important to him personally, too. He saved money, earned his driver's license, bought a car, got married, and purchased a home. His career has given him financial stability and the ability to support his family, but it has also shown Luke what he is capable of accomplishing.
“I’ve achieved every goal that I set for myself, even the ones I didn’t think were possible,” he said.
Luke has also encountered people who have questioned what someone with a disability should be able to accomplish or earn. Instead of letting those expectations define him, they have motivated him to keep proving what he can do. Today, when Luke looks back at where he started, he sees a very different version of himself.
“I can do anything I put my mind to.”
Still Looking Forward
Nearly two decades after joining TAC, Luke isn't finished growing. He wants to continue his career at TAC, take on greater responsibilities, and keep moving forward. Just as importantly, he wants to help the people he leads recognize their own potential. What makes him proudest isn't simply his title. It is knowing his team can depend on him.
“I’m able to keep the whole department going,” Luke said. “I keep it happy, and I support everyone.”
The journey from learning a new job to becoming the person others look to for guidance is what makes Luke's story so meaningful.
Celebrating Value and Talent
NDEAM reminds us that meaningful employment for people with disabilities is about more than having a job. It is about having opportunities to learn, grow, contribute, and pursue what comes next.
Luke was given an opportunity, and over nearly two decades, he continued building on it. He developed skills. He found confidence. He became more independent. He built a family and a home. And he grew from an entry-level employee into a leader who now helps others succeed.
When asked what he would tell another person with a disability who has goals they aren't sure they can reach, Luke's message is simple:
“If I can do it, you can do it. Hard work and determination pays off.”
This NDEAM, Luke's story is a reminder of what can happen when talent is recognized, opportunity is available and people are encouraged to keep growing.
