Good Things Happening Everywhere

I recently came across a story of a restaurant owner in New Mexico that was both exciting and refreshing and thought it was worth passing on.  Please review the attached link below to see the story of Tim.  Tim is a person with a disability that wanted more from life.  His childhood dream was to be a restaurant owner, and with the support of his family he was able to make that dream come true!

http://timsplaceabq.com/about-tim

SRV TRAINING

An important benefit in being involved with the Job Squad community includes educational training.  A few months ago, Brian Connaughton and I attended the Social Role Valorization (SRV) PASSING training provided by the WV Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC).  SRV is a set of approaches designed to enable devalued people in society to experience the Good Life.  These approaches are best used by persons who clearly believe that devaluation of a party is wrong, and who are prepared to work to overcome this.  SRV’s many strategies, derived from practical experience and from what research has revealed, is to help devalued people achieve valued social roles.  It finds that this is the most powerful way to work against devaluation and its negative effects and provides a wide variety of techniques and approaches for doing so.

PASSING is the acronym for 'Program Analysis of Service Systems' Implementation of Normalization Goals. PASSING assesses only the social role valorizing quality of human services, and is especially applicable to services to people with disabilities and/or people devalued for other reasons (eg. group residences, child development centers, special education programs, vocational programs, on-the-job training, rehabilitation settings etc.). Settings such as these will be evaluated by the participants as part of this workshop.

The training is aimed at persons who are or aspire to be leaders in human services, especially in their local area, and especially in bringing about adaptive change. Additionally, the workshop is intended to support individuals who either are, or who are likely to become, deeply committed to devalued people and who wish to use SRV as a guide in their support of those persons. Such support may take many forms but one is an understanding, at a technical level of the changes necessary within human services if people are to experience better lives.

To learn more about SRV and SRV PASSING, go to:  http://www.socialrolevalorization.com/index.html

A Win/Win for Brett and Ernie

Twenty one year old Brett Lantz was referred to the Ties to Employment project (through a Developmental Disabilities Council grant) by the agency that provides waiver services to him.  When Brett lived at home, he had spent time working with his dad on a small self-employment business of taking apart old fire extinguishers and selling the parts to recycling establishments. He had an interest in similar work and some skills and experience using tools and machinery.  During the Discovery process, themes that emerged for Brett included working outdoors, working with tools and machinery, and working with vehicles. 

When Ernie Richards at Mountaineer Automotive in Clarksburg was contacted, he agreed to have Brett come in for a paid work experience.  There was an instant bond between Brett and Ernie. 

Ernie turned out to be an excellent mentor for Brett,  teaching him the skills needed for a variety of jobs at his garage including detailing vehicles, checking and changing oil, checking tire pressure and filling tires, charging batteries, and taking an engine apart for replacement of various parts. 

        

When asked about needs he had for his business, Ernie told us that he was turning away a lot of business because he did not have the ability to provide new tires for his customers.  He was interested in purchasing a tire changing machine and tire balancer.  After working for several weeks with Brett, he felt sure that this was a task that Brett could learn to do.  Using the concept of Resource Ownership, Brett purchased the machines for the business through a Compensating Balance Loan with CWVTEL Credit Union and Job Squad, Inc.  Brett will own the equipment which will be used to bring increased business to Mountaineer Automotive, allowing Ernie to hire Brett.  Starting the third week in October, Brett will be on the Mountaineer Automotive payroll starting at 12 hours per week at minimum wage. As business increases with the new machinery and Brett gains skill in using it, Ernie has agreed to gradually increase Brett’s hours up to 32 hours per week.

A follow-up post will focus on Brett’s success in using the new equipment and his integration as a new employee at Mountaineer Automotive.

Go West Rendezvous 2013

Griffin-Hammis Associates  

Denton, Idaho

 Staff at Job Squad attended the “invitation only” Go West Rendezvous again this year.  An amazing group of folks worked around the clock sharing ideas on leveraging Social Capital, refining Customized Employment, improving job development, understanding financial aspects of self & wage employment, detailing the use of Discovery and Vocational Themes, and finding the metaphors from diverse people and places that help us move to new solutions.  In honor of Dave Hammis, who passed away last year shortly after the 2012 Rendezvous, we lifted our thoughts and cups in his memory. 

 

 

 

"Discovery to Employment"

 

The training covered "Discovery to Employment". Over 30 people attended, where they learned how the discovery process moves to discovering personal genius to developing vocational themed tracts. Pat Cassidy reinforced that we may not be concentrating on a person's dream job, but on a job that makes sense to the person. This training she also shed light on how to approach businesses and develop relationships with individuals and employers. In this field we spend time getting to know the individual, but are we spending enough time getting to know the employer? Are we doing those informational interviews?  (Griffin-Hammis Associates – Facebook).

 

Information on Ethics, Politics and Nuances of Medicaid

 

Dr. Steve Hall, former community agency CEO and state Developmental Disability and Mental Health system director for 2 states, challenged the Rendezvous group regarding the ethics, politics, and nuances of Medicaid and the disability industry Steve's knowledge and commitment to justice are staggering. (Griffin-Hammis Associates – Facebook).

 Finding the metaphors from diverse people and places that help us move to new solutions.

 

This year’s guest speaker was Kate Davis, founder of Raptors of the Rockies.  Kate began early in life with a love of animals, and by her junior year in high school, she was rehabilitating injured and orphaned mammals and raptors with the Cincinnati Zoo Junior Zoologists Club. Right away, she began providing educational programs at the zoo and in the community.  Later, after locating to Missoula, Kate received a degree in Zoology from the University of Montana.  She moved to a ranch outside of Missoula and obtained the required federal rehabilitation, possession, eagle exhibition and falconry permits. Kate currently cares for fifteen species of permanently disabled raptors and falconry birds.  Her “teaching team” consists of eagles, falcons, hawks and owls - making up the Raptors of the Rockies.  Throughout Kate’s life, she has developed her love of animals into various ventures including art - metal sculptures, photography, and has authored several books about raptors.  To find out more information about Kate’s work, visit her website at:  http://www.raptorsoftherockies.org/

 

Connie’s Story Continues…..

The Looking Glass Consignment Shop had to generate additional income in order to hire Connie as their first employee.  They recently opened up the new store in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and needed additional racks, hangers, displays and software for their computer to display and tag the merchandise that was being brought in for consignment. 

Through a service known as Resource Ownership, Job Squad sponsored a grant which was given to Connie, allowing her to purchase the needed equipment for their business.  Connie owns the equipment, which generates additional revenue and, in turn, affords The Looking Glass the opportunity to offer Connie employment, working 25 hours a week to start. 

 

 

We are also negotiating with the business owners for Connie to open her own business within their business.  It will be known as “Connie’s Corner”.  We are in the process of planning for this next adventure with Connie and The Looking Glass.  Through this opportunity, Connie will be able to increase her hours of work per week at the store.

Connie totally enjoys her employment with The Looking Glass.  Not only does she see Shell and Beth Hoskinson, owners of The Looking Glass, at work, but she also sees them at church - all part of social networking. :o)