Background
Troy is 31 years old and lives in Missouri. Troy is an active volunteer in his community and has a paid job on the facilities team at a local school. Troy volunteers serving food through the local chapter of Meals on Wheels — a national organization that prepares and delivers food to homes and community kitchens for older adults and people with disabilities. He also volunteers serving meals at a local summer camp, Strong Tower Ranch. Troy is a long-time member of the local Special Olympics basketball team and a huge Chicago Bulls fan. Troy’s dedication to serving others through volunteering, his love of basketball, and the connections he made in his paid position at the school all culminated into an offer to serve as volunteer assistant coach for the community’s Little League basketball team.
What’s Important
One year earlier, Troy worked in a sheltered workshop and attended a day services program. However, Troy had been telling his family and residential staff that he wanted to have a job to make money. Troy’s family and residential staff agreed that working was what Troy really wanted and that having a job would be good for his quality of life. They believed Troy could work successfully with the right supports. Troy’s residential caseworker met with the Director of Employment Services for Warren County Pathfinders, a local community life engagement and employment services provider that uses Medicaid waiver funds. Troy decided that staff from Warren County Pathfinders would provide his employment services.
Troy and the Warren County Pathfinders Director of Employment Services visited a wide variety of businesses in the community to explore job possibilities. Many of the businesses they visited already had a relationship with Pathfinders and were interested in hiring employees. Troy enjoyed these opportunities to shadow other people doing tasks at their jobs. One of the final places Troy explored was the local school district. The school district had a few job openings, and Troy’s support team set up a meeting to see if he would be a good fit for any of them. Troy’s residential staff helped him prepare to attend the meeting. During the meeting, they realized that a job in the cafeteria would not be a good fit, but the facilities team offered Troy a job in an open position.
From the beginning, Troy was highly motivated to contribute to the facilities team’s work and had good support to learn a wide variety of job responsibilities quickly. The Pathfinders Director used creative ways to teach Troy to carry out his responsibilities, such as sweeping a floor by following the tiled color patterns. Troy’s coworkers also learned how to support him on the job, communicating with him through his phone, reminding him about tasks he needed to do, and helping him learn the skills he needed to succeed. The coworkers also trained a new job coach who took over supporting Troy when the director stepped back.
The facilities team appreciates Troy’s desire to learn and contribute. They also value his physical strength and his ability to move heavy boxes and items, which has increased the amount of work the team can get done. With encouragement and support, Troy integrated further with the team by learning to manage his behavior and personal care. While some members of the school district initially did not believe that Troy would be successful, their experience working with him changed their attitudes.
When Troy was settled in his job, his experience at work led to an unexpected positive outcome. One day while Troy was cleaning at the school, he noticed the community Little League basketball team’s practice session and decided to show the team a Special Olympics gold medal he had just won in basketball. The coach and the team appreciated Troy sharing his experience and his love for basketball. This interaction led to the coach asking Troy if he would be interested in the role of assistant coach for the team. The community Little League is supported wholly by volunteer coaches, and Troy was excited to take on this additional volunteer opportunity that aligned so well with his passion. Troy received support from both his residential and employment teams, who were aware of his love for basketball.
What Happened
Troy works two afternoons a week with the facilities team at the school. This past summer, Troy helped set up classrooms for the new school year. Troy makes a similar wage to other members of the facilities team and has the opportunity for raises. Troy likes making money and enjoys buying watches to add to his collection. He would like to increase the number of days he works, and is trying to find a balance between work, his many volunteer roles, and attending some activities he enjoys at his day program.
Troy’s coworkers give him natural support on the job if he needs it and consider him a valued team member. Over the past year, Troy has had a job coach from Pathfinders who has moved from providing daily support to checking in with him once a month.
After work, Troy serves as a volunteer assistant basketball coach for the community team that practices at the school. He works alongside the volunteer head coach to demonstrate plays and provide one-on-one coaching to team members who need added practice on certain skills. Troy’s residential staff drive him to his job in the afternoon and pick him up after basketball practice in the evening.
Troy, his coworkers, employment and residential staff, and his family are all very satisfied with his job. Everyone is also very satisfied with the other positive outcomes that have resulted from this job: Troy is in much better physical and mental health, manages his daily living needs with more independence, and has developed community connections in an area he’s passionate about.
Lessons Learned
- People with intellectual and developmental disabilities who say they want to work need the chance to work and learn on the job. Troy kept talking about wanting to work, and his team listened. His team believed that Troy would succeed given the opportunity, so they supported him in exploring job openings.
- Employment in integrated settings often has other benefits. Troy expanded his social and professional networks through connections he made on the job. Troy’s engagement in a job has also improved his physical, mental, and social health.
- Keep employment options open and don’t give up. Troy interviewed with more than one team at the school to see where he would be a good fit. When one job option did not work out, Troy was considered for another position that turned out to be a better fit.
- A good job search is worth the time. Troy’s job search took some time and exploration, but he managed to match into a job that he enjoyed, and that led to an opportunity to further engage with his community and make other positive life changes.
- Get to know people who are doing the things you like to do. Troy showed the school basketball team his medal and how much he knew about basketball, and it turned out that the team could benefit from his help.
For more information, contact: Janice Hinson: jhinson@warrencountypathfinders.org.
