FOR Jerome Vincent, having one leg has never defined him. In fact, the 44-year-old often jokes that he forgets he has a disability because he chooses not to see himself as disabled but as someone capable of achieving anything he sets his mind to.

A sanitation and maintenance officer at Honey Bun Jamaica, Vincent said he is grateful to work for a company that looks beyond his disability and recognises his potential.

Recently, he captured the hearts of thousands after appearing in one of the bakery’s videos on social media, during which he was seen diligently washing crates used to transport baked goods. The clip quickly resonated with viewers, many of whom praised Honey Bun for providing meaningful employment to a person with a disability.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer, Vincent said he was deeply touched by the overwhelming outpouring of support, joking that he has now become “famous”.

“Honey Bun is the best, because I can’t believe they really hire a one-foot guy. They are really great to people with disabilities,” said Vincent.

VINCENT…a nuff places me go and they look at me from head to toe and say no, but I just have to say, ‘God, thank you for Honey Bun’

He shared that he was born with his right leg significantly shorter than his left. At the age of five, his right leg was amputated. Although adjusting to life with one leg was initially challenging, he said that with the support of medical professionals and rehabilitation specialists, he learned to adapt and regained his independence, refusing to let his disability define his future.

“Sometimes I don’t even remember that I have one leg,” he said, laughing. “It’s only when somebody points it out or if I’m talking to a woman and she says I have confidence for a one-foot man.”

His resilience extended beyond everyday life into sports. An avid swimmer, Vincent discovered a passion for the water at a young age and is now training to represent Jamaica in the 2027 Special Olympics, proving that determination, not disability, has shaped the course of his life.

However, he noted that not everyone saw him as able. He said that entering his adult years was difficult as the search for a source of income was often futile. He said he applied to many places that looked down on him because he has one leg, and was grateful that he found Honey Bun in 2024.

“When I just got here my coworkers were wondering how I a guh work and me just say to them, ‘Just wait man,’ them a guh see who ‘Oney’ [local nickname for person with one leg] is. From that, everybody loves me, and they can’t believe I can work so hard on one leg,” said Vincent.

“I believe in myself. I come to work early every day. The work is not easy but I put in the effort to show every other person with a disability that it should not stop them; just put your best and do what you have to do. When people have a disability sometimes they are shy, but not me. I don’t let my leg stop me,” he told the
Jamaica Observer.

Jerome Vincent, a sanitation and maintenance employee at Honey Bun, cleans a set of crates used to store baked goods. x

He urged companies to give people with disabilities a chance, noting that they are far more capable than many people think.

“Every workplace should have someone with a disability where maybe them hand gone or them foot, like me, they are in a wheelchair, or anything. It’s very important. We will work.

“Workplaces just need to give us a chance. A nuff places me go and they look at me from head to toe and say no. But I just have to say, ‘God, thank you for Honey Bun,’ ” he said.

Honey Bun Human Resources Manager Flona Brooks said the company has a proud history of hiring for ability, not disability, with an overall mission to create an inclusive working environment.

“For us, it’s not only about inclusivity, but it feels like an ethical obligation as well towards Jamaicans living with disabilities. We have several success stories, not only from Vincent but also persons here from the deaf community who we have seen matriculate from just coming in as regular workers to getting promoted. We have persons here with mental health issues — and, of course, they’re being properly monitored, and we have a relationship with their family members to ensure that they are getting the proper treatment — and we do treat them well here,” she told the Sunday Observer.

BROOKS…for us, it’s not only about inclusivity, but it feels like an ethical obligation as well towards Jamaicans living with disabilities

A recipient of the Inclusivity Champion Award at the 2025 Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) awards, Brooks said Honey Bun Jamaica is committed to ensuring that employees with disabilities not only have meaningful employment but also a safe, supportive, and inclusive work environment.

She explained that the company conducts sensitivity training for staff to foster greater awareness, encourage respect, and equip employees with the knowledge needed to create welcoming spaces in which colleagues with disabilities can thrive.

“The staff here have an understanding of why inclusion is important… Some of my guys in distribution, they can do sign language — they actually learned it — and there are others learning from persons here as well. For us, it’s really about equal access to opportunity. There is no special treatment but we ensure that they are treated fairly, which is a basic right,” she said.

Brooks urged more companies to partner with organisations such as the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities, allowing them to demonstrate that they are fully capable of thriving in the workplace despite their physical challenges.

“You’d be surprised at the total amount of people here who are open, and they’re ready. They’re trained, they’re smart, they’re bright, and they will add value. I wouldn’t ask them [employers] to do it for optics. Do it because it’s the right thing to do,” she encouraged.