Monroe County Grants Office
Billy M. Buckley

For 10 years, Billy Buckley lived with his mother, serving as her caregiver. Her death in November 1997 dramatically changed his world in many ways. He was forced to move from New York to Pennsylvania to live with his brother and sister-in-law in a rural area near Stroudsburg. And his last work experience was in a sheltered workshop in 1992. At 34, Billy knew he needed to find a good-paying job. But severe vision problems prevent him from securing a driver’s license, limit his reading ability of normal print and translate into visual functioning difficulties in learning new job tasks. Determined, Billy was well aware of his obstacles and what it would take to succeed. And success to Billy meant getting his own apartment.

Billy was referred to the Burnley Employment and Rehabilitative Services via the area’s Blind and Visual Services. Single-minded, he never wavered from his target of obtaining a full-time job with benefits.

The Blind and Visual Services collaborated with the Burnley Program to provide Billy with job training in food services including supplying a job coach during the first several weeks. Community Service Block Grant funding provided through the Monroe County Grants Office, the county’s Community Action Agency, also helped to provide Follow On coaching when Billy’s supervisor changed.

“The job coaching was helpful and made learning the job a pleasure,” Billy said. “When I was able to do the job on my own I felt very proud. I want to keep working, save my money and travel some day.”

Moving from unemployment to part-time employee in the Food Services Program at Burnley, he proved he was a capable and dedicated employee. He was then hired full-time at Wood Company at Aventis Pasteur working in their cafeteria.

Billy seeks to excel in his work and goes out of his way to ensure he is meeting his supervisors’ expectations. He is successful because he learned how to not only do his own job well, but to assist others at critical times when they need extra help.

Billy fits into an organization right from the start. His pleasant disposition is infectious and his “can do” attitude makes him a very welcome addition to the kitchen staff. One of his most notable characteristics is his willingness to go the extra mile to help anyone in need.

Billy is set apart from his peers due to his strong determination and his steady progress which this has helped him to achieve. While transitioning from part-time to full-time employment, Billy also moved into his own apartment. Overcoming transportation and other issues, he has achieved his goal.

Billy said he would have looked for a job on his own, but recognizes it would not have been easy. According to him, the job probably would have mirrored his previous job in a sheltered workshop or as a volunteer in a nursing home.

Billy is best described as a willing worker who refuses to give up despite formidable challenges. He is constantly seeking to improve himself. Once Billy has set a goal, he will not quit until he has exhausted every avenue to reach his goal. Most other individuals would have been content to have a steady job – not Billy. He worked hard to prove he was capable of working in a more challenging environment in return for the prospect of a better pay and benefits.

Monroe County Grants Office, the Community Action Agency for Monroe County, provides residents with the tools they need to create a better life for themselves and become self-sufficient.