Greetings, everyone – long time, no blog! First off, apologies for my lengthy absence: In the past several months, I made my foray into the realm of job coaching and job development. I could definitely devote a whole other blog post to that experience, and I likely will soon. What I can say right off the bat is that being a job coach/developer is a very involved and time-consuming process: task analysis, resume building, on-the-job instruction, field notes, documentation for counselors, and more. But, without a doubt, it is all very worth it. You learn a great deal about the individuals you work with – how they interact, how they perceive their work, what their biggest barriers are to overcome, and so on. And, of course, you are a firsthand witness of how successful and impactful they can be in their employment. (If you have a calling for this line of work, please visit https://lsg4schools.com/employment or email us at info@lsg4schools.org.)
It is that concept of a “success story” that inspires what I’m posting about today. I have been able to interview a few individuals who have found fulfilling job placement – the next one to be posted very soon! – and in that light, LSG held our first “Employment Celebration” on Saturday, June 22nd. Five of our participants, as well as their families and support staff, attended the celebration at the Westside Community Center, and there was so much excitement among them. They represented businesses such as Arby’s, Lowe’s, and Restoration Pizza, and they were able to share their own stories in their unique voices, with healthy support systems to back them up. Quite simply, this event was an opportunity for them to receive recognition they have probably not experienced before.
So, what did that recognition look like at our event? For one, the individuals got to create their own “All About Me” display boards, where they could combine text, images, and decorations to highlight their jobs, their interests, their families, and any other items significant to them. Second, each individual received a certificate of achievement, an even more official honoring of the fine work they have performed. Third, each of them received a gift bag containing a t-shirt, notebook, fidget toys, and more. And then, as the individuals presented their personal stories, they were supported by the accounts of their guests: For example, one mother spoke on her daughter’s tumultuous experience with job hunting, facing antagonism from certain employers, and finally discovering a work community where she could thrive. The mother cautioned that she “might get emotional” while relating the story and emphasized her gratitude for her daughter’s job coach.
Based on this inaugural Employment Celebration, we fully expect that this event will be successful in the future as well. We see this event evolving by holding the Celebration annually, and one of our major objectives for that is to expand the scale. We will extend our outreach so that more participants can attend in the future, especially with the caseload of clients we’ve accumulated over the past year, and we hope that more representatives from other agencies will join in as well. And why, again, is it so important to celebrate these individuals? As I mentioned before, this kind of recognition is unfortunately not very common for people with diverseABILITIES that find successful placement, so there is an ever-present need to raise more awareness of these success stories and the opportunities out there for the individuals still searching. We have seen such overwhelming evidence that they are able to contribute enormously to their work communities and are willing to join those communities when the chance is offered.
[pictured in top photo (left to right): Ashley, Rose, Kimmy, Amrei, and Sarah; photos by various LSG staff]
Until the next story,
Aaron Kelly Anderson
a.k.a. “A PhD on the Spectrum”
