Success Story: Kenneth “Kenny” Talbot
Age: 49 at time of interview, now 50
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Interviewer: Dr. Aaron Kelly Anderson w/ UNTAPPED
March 10, 2025
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My most recent interview is with an individual who has a reputation of being one of the most dedicated workers you will ever meet. Kenneth Talbot, who often goes by “Kenny,” found employment in accepting donations at Savers and has thrived in that position. He does not see his disability as any sort of obstacle, and he meets each day with an admirable go-getter attitude. Kenny credits his job coach, David, and other staff he has worked with as being the solid base of support he needs. I enjoyed the insightful conversation with him and how he has found an environment that feels welcoming and accommodating for him.
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Aaron Anderson: “So, where do you work, and what do you do in your position there?”
Kenny Talbot: “I work at Savers, and I... work in the back, where they bring the donations and drop ‘em off.”
AA: “Oh, excellent! So, you help take the donations and also help with stocking some of them?”
KT: “Yes, we have – the big stuff, we stock ourselves.”
AA: “Okay, very cool. And you’ve been enjoying that a lot?”
KT: “Yes.”
AA: “Good, good! So, correct me if I’m wrong, but you started services with us through DVR, and then you moved into DD Waiver services?”
KT: “I was with the DD Waiver before.”
AA: “Okay, so, before you started with us, you were already in the DD Waiver process?”
KT: “Yes.”
AA: “Cool! And how did you first learn about the services you could get through DD Waiver, and how did they kind of lead you to us at LSG?”
KT: “I was with, uh, Sasha King. And he’s the one who led me to you guys.”
AA: “And, um, you were sort of given a choice of agencies.”
KT: “Yes.”
AA: “Yeah, okay, very good! And what stood out to you about LSG as an agency that seemed like we would be the right ones to provide those services for you?”
KT: “Sasha King said, yeah, he’s dealt with you guys a lot. And that’s why I went with you guys.”
AA: “You heard pretty positive things about what we do?”
KT: “Yes!”
AA: “Good!”
KT: “And I like David [my job coach] really well!”
AA: “Yeah, yeah! I always hear good things about how he works with individuals on-site. Could you tell me more about what your experience has been like with David?”
KT: “Really well! The first day, we were – he knew one of the guys from Savers. He knew a guy, Carlos. And I got on over there; Tina was my main supervisor.”
AA: “Mm-hmm.”
KT: “Yeah, it’s just been – doing good.”
AA: “Cool! Good to hear.”
KT: “David checks on me and makes sure I’m okay.”
AA: “Mm-hmm, and makes sure you’re all good to go every step of the way.”
KT: “Yes! And I like working with David.”
AA: “I’m glad to hear that! Yeah, he does pretty good work, for sure.”
KT: “Oh, yes, he did! Yeah, Casey was my job coach for a while, then he moved on.”
AA: “Oh, yeah, I remember Casey! That’s right; I forgot he was the one who –”
KT: “Got me started. Then David took over.”
AA: “And then he found you this –”
KT: “We looked up on Savers, and David looked up on it. Not even that morning, as soon as we signed in, they were already calling David.”
AA: “Oh, uh-huh! From Savers?”
KT: “Yeah, for an interview.”
AA: “That’s excellent!”
KT: “Yeah, he said he’s already trying for another person at Savers on Alameda, on the west side.”
AA: “Yeah, I believe we’ve had some pretty positive interactions with Savers, for sure. We’ve found some good openings there in the past.”
KT: “Yeah.”
AA: “So, let’s see... How would you say the Untapped team at LSG and what we do has been helpful?”
KT: “Oh, they’ve done really well helping me get onto, uh, getting a job, finding me a job coach, doing really well with me. You guys did really well helping me do this.”
AA: “Yeah, that’s good.”
KT: “A lot of places don’t take disability people. I’ve noticed that.”
AA: “Yeah, it’s true, unfortunately. There aren’t a lot of places that really accommodate –”
KT: “With a disability.”
AA: “Yeah.”
KT: “And you guys can accommodate people like that.”
AA: “Yeah, a lot of times, we’re pretty fortunate to find certain places that are very open to hiring people with disabilities. But then, sometimes we really have to kind of bridge it a little more.”
KT: “Yeah, that’s what helped.”
AA: “Absolutely, and that’s definitely what we always try to do.”
KT: “Yeah, and it’s nice being over there! A lot of places don’t take disability people.”
AA: “Yeah, very true. And I believe Savers has been – it’s luckily one of those places that has been a little more open to having that conversation about people with disabilities working there.”
KT: “Yeah.”
AA: “Next, what are your long-term goals for working at Savers?”
KT: “I’d like to turn it into doing some different things in different areas – they let me do a lot of stuff over there.”
AA: “Uh-huh.”
KT: “And I like it!”
AA: “And you’d like to learn how to do even more over there?”
KT: “Yeah, and that’s what they’re teaching me.”
AA: “That’s excellent!”
KT: “Yeah, David always talks to John and Carlos, mainly. And they say I’m doing excellent.”
AA: “Good! Yeah, and um, do you see yourself in the future maybe trying for some kind of management or leader position there?”
KT: “Uh, I don’t really want that. That would have to be – you would have to be on the computer and everything else.”
AA: “Yeah, it might not necessarily be as hands-on as the work you’re doing now.”
KT: “Yeah. I wanna be where I’m hands-on. And I’m not a computer whiz.”
AA: “Uh-huh.”
KT: “I don’t like to be on the computers. I’m not that good – I'm not smart enough to be on the computer.”
AA: “I mean, yeah, a lot of computer tasks can be pretty confusing sometimes.”
KT: “And I’m not that talented on a computer. If I really wanted to do it, I would have to go figure out how to go back into schooling for that.”
AA: “Yeah, it’s a lot for sure, how to learn to do all of that. Next question: What is your disability, and how would you say it affects your work? Or does not affect your work?”
KT: “It does not. I am on really powerful medication.”
AA: “Okay!”
KT: “And I have a petit mal seizure.”
AA: “Oh, uh-huh.”
KT: “But that doesn’t affect my work.”
AA: “Okay, good! So, there haven’t been any barriers where that’s concerned.”
KT: “No.”
AA: “Okay! Well, that’s good to hear. And finally: How do you see yourself, just like with your career and then just through life?”
KT: “Well, I’m doing pretty good; it’s just getting everything paid off, getting things done... And that’s what I want.”
AA: “Just to get through the usual things of life and make sure you’re as secure as possible.”
KT: “Yes!”