Cleaning the shop's displays and filling the shelves with products all day long, Supakorn Gesmankit lives his typical working days just like other part-timers at a clothes store. His shift starts at 7.30am and ends at 3pm. He works four days a week and is paid the same wages as other temps. But there is one huge difference, and that is his intellectual impairment.
"It seemed he could not catch up on his first day. But after that, he was able to follow our explanations and now he can handle certain things by himself," said Supaporn Sopa, cashier leader at Uniqlo, renowned Japanese casual wear and accessories manufacturer and retailer. She is also Supakorn's mentor.
Supakorn is a person with intellectual disability. Prior to working at Uniqlo, he was a Special Olympics athlete which, by definition, includes those with an IQ score lower than 85. Last year, the now 20-year-old represented Thailand in the 11th Special Olympics World Winter Games held in South Korea. He competed in the 25m and 50m snowshoe race and won himself a silver and a bronze medal respectively.
As his sporting competence improved, his other skills developed, too. In 2010, Supakorn joined the Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programme _ a global campaign designed to give Special Olympics athletes an opportunity to develop skills outside the sports field. He was chosen to serve on the Special Olympics' organising committee, and as a regional representative, a speaker at Special Olympics' public events, and even emceed the Asia Pacific Special Olympics Leadership Conference held in Bangkok this year.
And now Supakorn is employed as a part-timer at Uniqlo at CentralPlaza Lardprao.
"I really like it here," Supakorn spoke of his first day at a speed a tad slower than other people do. "Everyone is so kind to me. They give me a very warm and friendly welcome."
According to chief administrative officer of Uniqlo (Thailand), Kenji Takagi, his employment is a collaboration between Uniqlo and Special Olympics Thailand, which aims to give people with intellectual disabilities employment opportunities.
"We want to hire as many people [with disabilities] as possible. It is one of our global corporate social responsibility policies. We want to provide a working situation for all people in society," explained Takagi. "We have had a relationship with Special Olympics Singapore and got introduced to Special Olympics Thailand [through that]. And so we talked about the possibility of hiring their athletes."
On a global scale, Uniqlo shops in other countries such as Japan, China and South Korea already hire Special Olympics athletes, Takagi added. And Supakorn is the second in Thailand.
"Last December we had one person working at [Uniqlo] Central Rama IX, but because of personal reasons, she resigned," he recalled.
Despite his intellectual impairment, Supakorn Gesmankit is living proof that he is capable of thriving in a job he loves, just like many other people.
Supakorn started working at the store in early June. Just like other temporary staff, he was provided a one-day internship session so as to have a better understanding of the role and the business. His main responsibility is to clean the clothes on display, take care of the stock and put products on the shelves. Sometimes he even comes out and greets customers with his bold, loud voice.
"Most of my jobs are in the stockroom," Supakorn said, while touring the store and introducing some of his best buddies. "In the morning, I clean clothes using a lint remover. In the afternoon, I go inside the stockroom and prepare the supply. This is so much fun."
Special Olympics Thailand's national director Rachaniwan Bulakul added that Supakorn working at the store is not just about the development of a person with intellectual impairment. It is also proof that people's attitudes towards the intellectually disabled have changed.
"Athlete Leaders are the face of the Special Olympics," said Rachaniwan, referring to the role Supakorn took on as part of the leadership programme. "It is proof of how sports can empower people with intellectual disability. By providing the opportunity for athletes to explore their interests and learn new skills, they are able to develop and face new challenges. All that is needed is the chance to be trained to perform that task. Training and practising is very important for everyone, not just disabled people. Athletes, musicians, accountants, doctors _ everybody requires training before one can accomplish a task or perform well as no one is born with these skills. Intellectually disabled people just require more training.
"In Supakorn's case, people may view intellectually disabled people differently and it gives these people more chance to be part of the society. This is because every intellectually disabled person deserves to be given opportunities to develop as a human being," the national director stressed.
In order for all Uniqlo's staff to be aware of having an intellectually impaired person working among them, close internal communication is required, explained Takagi.
All staff are told about the company's corporate social responsibility policy so that they understand the situation and are willing to support staff with intellectual disability instead of looking down on them or ridiculing them. If, in the future, a mutual collaboration is reached between the company and Special Olympics Thailand, Uniqlo is ready to hire more intellectually disabled people so as to give them an opportunity that comes with a better chance of not just intellectual, but also physical and social development.
"Our company tries to make the world a better place to live," said Takagi. "If Special Olympics Thailand can introduce people to our company."
Supakorn's piggy bank might be empty just now but his earnings are gradually pouring in. The 80 baht he receives per hour is the same wage as other part-timers, but he plans to spend it on his necessities as well as to save some for the future. When asked what his plan in life is, his response showed something that looked like brand loyalty, but wasn't. Instead, it shows his determination.
"I want to continue working here," he said. "It has become part of my life."
