ABC News - After 15 years at a $12-per-week job at the Wyndham Hotel in Lawrence, Mass., Mark Stanganelli, a 45-year-old man with Down syndrome, has been fired. Stanganelli had been placed in the job polishing silver at the Boston-area hotel by the Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative, a program designed to place disabled adults in employment. But the program said the funds to keep Stanganelli working have dried up because of budget cuts. A letter of termination last month informed the family that the Wyndham Hotel setting was “no longer an appropriate option for Mark.” Friday will be Stanganelli’s last day at the hotel. Stanganelli’s parents are worried about what the loss of his job will do to their son, who they said loves to work. “He’s thrilled when he gets his paycheck,” Beverly Stanganelli, Mark’s mother, told ABC News affiliate WCVB. However, the relatively small paycheck – $24 every other week – isn’t the most important part for Stanganelli and other disabled adults. “By having that groove and that routine, it builds their self-esteem, it builds their stability, their security and also their sense of worth,” Gerald Stanganelli, Mark’s father, told WCVB.
I don’t know who’s more retarded here, Corky the silver polisher or his parents who apparently actually believe this “We need to cut budgets” bullshit. Hey Gerald and Beverly, quit it with the sob story and look at the facts of the matter. I mean, your son wasn’t exactly raking in the big money here. Probably hasn’t seen a raise in over a decade. He’s got the Downs. Let’s call a spade and spade and just say Mark Staganelli isn’t that good at polishing silver, okay? $12 a week probably isn’t the difference between staying in the black and going in the red for this hotel.
But what a better time for ol’ Mark Stag to start living life, huh? Dude’s 45 and just got laid off from the only job he’s known this century. There couldn’t be a better time to go see the world and all that’s out there. If he saved like 25% of his paychecks over the last 12 years he’d probably have enough money for a trip to the zoo or a couple appetizers and an entrée from T.G.I. Friday’s or something boss like that. The world is your oyster Mark! Just don’t order too many of ‘em because you probably can’t afford it big guy.
PS – All that being said, total bummer right? Poor dude was probably getting hyped about a pension down the line at some point too. Waiting in the front yard every other Friday waiting for that crisp Thomas Jefferson to show up in the mail. For shame.
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