Gianna Jackson greets visitors at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, answering questions about exhibits and moving over the sleek floors with a crutch under her arm to help her walk.
Born with a disease that weakens her bones, Jackson cannot stand for very long. She uses a wheelchair for traveling long distances. She came to the museum through Bridges From School to Work, a program from the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities (Marriott International is No. 14 in The 2011 Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity). The program works with participating employers to place high-school students with disabilities into mutually beneficial jobs.
“Working here has been a dream,” Jackson says. “I lived a really sheltered life and Bridges opened a door to me. Everyone just treats me like a regular person. I am a regular person, but that never really registered with me before. Now I see that, ‘OK, I fit in.'”
