Sam and Officer Nobel
When Sam Rosken’s family relocated from New York to Florida, he found himself adjusting to life in a new place and looking for a new job. He was referred to Work Opportunities Unlimited (WOU) for assistance in securing employment, and now he has the perfect position at a baseball stadium!
When he first came to WOU, Sam was supported by a few different Career Resource Specialists on the West Palm Beach, Florida team, all of whom were dedicated to breaking down barriers to employment for people with disabilities. Sam had tried different positions that accommodated his use of a wheelchair, including an on-the-job training opportunity cleaning and greeting guests at a local hotel, and a brief stint checking in customers for a dayboat cruise company. However, none of the roles were a great match for him. Then Sam was referred to Career Resource Specialist Susan Scaperotto for “discovery.” Susan explains, “It’s a service we do in Florida, where we get to know a client on a more detailed level and create a profile for them to generate ideas for employment. I spent a lot of time with Sam, interviewed everybody he knows, and we did different tasks out in the community.”
Susan learned that, as a sports lover, Sam’s dream job was to work at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. In February of 2024, she took him there for a visit and he had the chance to practice scanning tickets. When he proved he was able to hold the scanner and point the red laser light at the barcode with ease, Sam was offered the job as a ticket scanner! Each shift, once visitors come through the gates for baseball games, Sam will scan their tickets for entry. Susan stayed close to Sam for his first few days to offer support, before comfortably fading to the background. “It’s a good job match, so he doesn’t need a lot of support from me. It has been going very, very well.” says Susan.
Sam enjoys great natural support at the stadium. On his first day, Officer Nobel of the Jupiter Police Department encouraged guests to use Sam’s lane. Susan shares, “Roger Dean Stadium pays for extra police during spring training and special events, and Officer Nobel signed up. He was wonderful, and extremely helpful for Sam’s first day.” Many stadium staff members are retirees enjoying part-time work during their favorite season: baseball season. They all have Sam’s back, too, says Susan. “They will check on him to see if he needs anything. If his scanner is not working, they’ll go get a new one for him, or they’ll bring him water if he needs one.” As a result, Sam has really blossomed in his new role. “I can see an improvement in his self-esteem, and I think he has gained more independence.”
Sam Roskinen and Keith Grieser
Sam is actually the second of Susan’s clients to work at Roger Dean Stadium. In 2017, she placed Keith Grieser, who was featured in a WOU success story and video spotlight for his success as a greeter. Keith happily continues to work at the stadium, where he plays a pre-recorded message that informs visitors of upcoming security screening at the metal detectors, streamlining the process for everyone involved. Even though Sam and Keith hold different positions and work at different entrance gates, they know each other from employee meetings. Susan was thrilled to visit Keith while supporting Sam there as well. She says, “After all of these years, Keith is still there, and he’s supported and respected.”
“Roger Dean Stadium is a really great local stadium,” says Susan. “The Miami Marlins train there, and so do the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s a really big deal to a lot of people.” In fact, thousands of people attend during spring training. The stadium also hosts minor league games. In addition to being a popular place to visit and valuable community resource, “They are just really supportive of and open-minded toward people with disabilities at Roger Dean Stadium,” Susan shares. Sam’s caretaker, Junior, drives him to work and assists with his needs, so the stadium kindly gave a badge to Junior for easy entry. “They gave me one too, so that I can get into the games easily just to check on him. They have been really accommodating,” Susan says. “I feel that Keith paved the way with people with disabilities at Roger Dean Stadium, and now we have Sam there as well… I already have someone else that I’m trying to place there for next season. I’m excited about it!”
