ORLANDO, Fla. — October is Disability Employment Awareness Month. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows people with disabilities typically have double the unemployment rate as other workers. 

One man with a life-long disability says he’s having trouble getting a job as a video editor due to a lack of career resources and tools.

What You Need To Know

  • October is Disability Employment Awareness Month

  • Steven Berkani says he needs more resources from the state and federal government to get the equipment he needs to break into the field of video editing 

  • At 32 years old, he still needs his mother for most of life’s simple daily tasks that many of us can do on our own 

At 32 years old, Steven Berkani still needs his mother for most of life’s simple daily tasks that many of us can do on our own. He has cerebral palsy from when he was born. 

But Berkani has figured out how to do a few things on his own, including operating a touchscreen tablet by using his nose. But Berkani doesn’t just want to watch videos. He wants to make them.

“He said to me, ‘Mom, when am I going to have my life? When am I going to be able to live my life?’ and I don’t know how to answer that sometimes,” said Karen Berkani.

Karen Berkani says federal disability money covers basic expenses, including necessary household items that insurance won’t cover. But it doesn’t cover the cost of tools her son needs to achieve his dreams of working professionally as a video editor.

Steven Berkani uses his chin on a touchpad to work on a computer, and he taught himself how to edit video using professional editing software. He’s edited several public service announcements, including one about the danger of leaving kids in hot cars.

Greg Cardino is a retired video production teacher who began mentoring Berkani after his mother reached out to him for help.

“He’s not just sitting here doing nothing, he’s trying hard every day to make the best of his situation, the best of his opportunity to do good for people,” said Cardino.

Since Spectrum News 13 first met Berkani back in 2018, his video editing equipment has become old and antiquated.

“Unfortunately, he needs better equipment — his equipment crashes on him all the time,” said Cardino.

Berkani says he’s reached out to potential employers and gotten some interest, but he says he needs a newer computer and updated editing software to properly do the work required as an editor.

“A production company that’s going to send Steven some editing work has got to say, ‘Alright Steven, we’re going to give you this kind of a timeline,’ and with better equipment, he’ll be able to do that,” said Cardino.

Steven Berkani says he’d like more resources from the state and federal government to get the equipment he needs to break into the field of video editing. 

“There should be programs for people with disabilities regarding film grants,” said Steven Berkani.

He will always need personalized care. But his family has not been able to find, or afford an in-home caretaker they feel is suitable for the level of care he needs.

“There’s no place I’d rather be than here taking care of my son,” said Karen Berkani. “I just want to keep staying healthy so I can keep caring for him – the longer the better.”

But his parents know the day will likely come when they aren’t here to take care of him.

“At the end of the day I have to worry about dying because I might not be around to take care of him, and God knows what happens once I’m gone,” said Karen Berkani.

And Karen Berkani says that makes it all the more important for her son to get the tools he needs to realize his career goals, and give him a way to at least — in part — support himself financially.

“He was dealt an unfair blow in his life and he’s got to live with it,” said Karen Berkani. “The very least our society should do is give him the best care, free of charge, as they’re able to do because he deserves that.”

Steven Berkani has an online fundraiser to raise money for better video-editing equipment.