WHAT DOES FRIENDSHIP MEAN TO YOU ?
TO STEVE, IT MEANS EMPLOYMENT
For more than 40 years, Ottawa Friendship House has been a champion for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By structuring their programs around the people served, Friendship House encourages the clients to pursue their own goals and live as independently as possible.
The photo above depicts one such individual: Steve, an Ottawa Friendship House consumer, along with Tina Angelico, the assistant manager at Arby’s restaurant. Steve has Cerebral Palsy along with intellectual challenges, and has had limited exposure to real life work experiences. With the support and guidance of Friendship House, Steve has proven that he can work and thrive within his own community. Kathy Hanson, manager at Arby’s in Ottawa, describes Steve as an extremely dedicated employee. “Steve has done great things and has been an integral part of our team for over two years. He is so reliable, always on time, and is never one to complain or offer excuses. Steve really sets the bar high, and is a great role model for our younger workers.”
Ms. Hanson currently employs three individuals with special needs and says that she and her staff have learned so much from these individuals. “There really are no boundaries or barriers between people with special needs and those without. If they exist, it is only because we put them there.” As Kathy and her staff at Arby’s have found, if you open your heart and mind, you will find that adults with disabilities have hopes and dreams not all that different from your own.
Steve has far surpassed the goal of the Community Employment Program at Friendship House. The staff and consumers work very hard to prepare for competitive employment within the community. Such tasks as basic as filling out an application are addressed, as well as workplace attitude, interview skills, and job skills. Ultimately, employers are thrilled to have dedicated, hard-working employees who value their job and give it their all. Transportation is coordinated by Friendship House, and both employers and consumers receive on-going support and guidance.
Ottawa Friendship House currently has 24 consumers in their Community Employment Program, 16 of them are employed at: Arby’s, Kroger’s, Wendy’s, Youth Service Bureau, Seattle Sutton Healthy Eating, Taco Bell, HR Imaging, Budget Boutique, and Wal-Mart. Handy Foods, Easter Seals Day Care and the Food Pantry also offer job-mentoring opportunities for our consumers.
A person is often measured by their job and the size of their paycheck. For persons with developmental disabilities, this is also a measure of success. With an increased opportunity to earn money, a person’s ability to live more independently increases.
Never underestimate the power of a paycheck and the effect it has on the self-esteem of an individual. Never underestimate the power of friendship. In Steve’s case, he’s thinking Arby’s is a great place to work!
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