Just being offered a job and working was a dream that wheelchair user and non-verbal man Brodie Taylor and his family never thought would be realised.
But the 28-year-old has proved dreams do come true – officially becoming the first sales representative for the disability support app Cérge.
His long-time carer Lauren Broom said getting the job meant the world to Mr Taylor, who has a debilitating muscular dystrophy condition.
He and Ms Broom began using the Cérge app a few month ago, to make their shopping experiences more smooth.
“He is absolutely thrilled,” Ms Broom said.
“It was a really special moment for him, because he had always wanted a job and to be seen as a normal everyday citizen.
“It has given him the opportunity to go out and shine. It certainly opens doors and makes people in the same situation or similar open their horizons to what’s possible.
“Brodie’s dream is to save up and buy a new van himself, so he can have his wheelchair in it, with his support workers driving. He is closer to that now.”
Ms Broom said the “real and proper job” had nothing to do with incentives or government subsidies.
“It’s got nothing to do with them feeling sorry for him either. Cérge have given an everyday person a job opportunity that we will be forever grateful for, because no one else has given him that,” she said.
The condition is causing Mr Taylor’s posture to deteriorate and this is having a significant impact on his health and function, including his respiratory function, pressure care, bowels, swallowing and communication.
“He suffers in pain daily but continues to smile with the amazing help from his family and Support workers,” Ms Broom said.
The Cérge app allows disability workers and their clients to have a more inclusive and friendly shopping experience by partnering with businesses that are happy to make extra allowances for people with various disabilities.
People with a disability can check in prior to arrival and lets businesses know of their needs ahead of their shopping experience.
READ MORE: ‘Profound’ shopping app lifts inclusivity
Mr Taylor’s role involves approaching local businesses in an area where there’s a new Cérge client to promote the platform and educate business owners about the technology and try to convince them to subscribe.
He is assisted by Ms Broom upon arrival and has brochures with a QR code for business owners to scan and watch a 90 second informative video.
They then give their contact details to Mr Taylor, who passes them onto his new boss and Cerge Co-founder Chris Kerrisk, who gives the potential new client a follow-up call.
Mr Kerrisk said he offered Mr Taylor the job based on his own merit, because he was the right person for the role.
“He is better at his role as a sales rep than I am,” Mr Kerrisk said.
“Brodie has a natural ability to sell digital technologies with his warm and engaging smile, established local business networks and unique ability to cut through the traditional direct sales process.
“He can get business owners to slow down and listen and learn about our platform – for them to appreciate what our technology can do for someone like Brodie or someone else with a similar disability – is incredibly powerful
Mr Taylor’s Auntie recently told his new boss the highlight of Mr Taylor’s week was when he goes out and is a Cérge rep.
READ MORE: App to boost customer experiences for disabled
“There is an incredible amount of joy and relief and belief that comes along with his role,” Mr Kerrisk said.
“Brodie is promoting a piece of technology that makes the world more inclusive so he can go out into the world more often as a customer, as can his peers and colleges. It’s a perfect alignment for him.”
Mr Kerrisk said appointing Mr Taylor to join the Cérge team represented the first stage of the company’s Boots-on-Ground Direct Sales Strategy as they approached Small-Medium business.
“As the business expands we will be looking to employing more people like Brodie in the future,” he said.
“People who would love the opportunity, who’ve never had a job before and the role is perfectly suited to their skill set.”
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