There is so much good that can happen if someone has a job. This is why Engaged Employment exists. Yes, we all need jobs to make money to live, but we also need jobs to give us a sense of purpose.
To demonstrate this, let me tell you about Brian, an 18 year-old who hadn’t finished high school.
When I met Brian, he hadn’t worked in months. His last job ended when there was a blowup with the business owner over a simple misunderstanding and Brian was let go. Brian’s frustrations over these kinds of misunderstandings were causing him to boil over. His anger caused constant friction with his parents, especially his mother since she was home most of the time. He was ready to abandon his plans for getting his GED.
“We need to get him out of here. We’re at our wits end,” his mother said. In addition to autism, Brian has ADHD which can spin him like a top. For many with cognitive or mental impairments, Brian’s case shows how working can preserve the sanity of the household, more than the need to earn an income.
Job coaches-like case managers or other support professionals—examine an individual’s quality of life to determine what’s best for the person, not what we or others think is best. Our first step is an interview to get a thorough assessment of their background, including education, medications, medical diagnoses, social involvements, hobbies or special interests, and past employment.
Brian has two unique interest areas: horses and cars. He had some odd jobs in the past working at horse stables but none of the jobs worked out or provided sustainable employment. With the evident limitations of that field, I began visiting with service managers at automotive dealers concentrated in a “motor mile” in Brian’s city.
This is where the second ingredient of a successful job placement needs to occur. When a job coach experienced in working with certain types of individuals meets with an employer who is open and sensitive to working with unique and gifted individuals like Brian, great things can happen.
Brian was hired as a technician-in-training for the dealership’s “quick lube bay” where cars come in for tire and oil changes. Brian is paired with an experienced technician to learn the job. Since Brian has self-taught himself and gained many insights to performance vehicles through the internet, auto shows and hanging out at the nearby race track, he was on a quick learning curve.
Brian started the job Oct. 30 earning $10 an hour plus a bonus for any customer purchasing tires and other accessories at Brian’s recommendation. With his renewed sense of purpose, he decided to jump back in to his classes for earning a GED. The service manager readily agreed to work Brian’s schedule around his GED classes.
Just a few weeks into the job, I was getting great reviews of Brian from his supervisors and co-workers. He’s energetic and eager to work at his job. Things are better at home too, now that Brian is out of the house more and working at a job he loves. Oh, and he recently finished his GED, completing the four exams in record time and earning high grades.
So much good can happen when people get the help they need.
