Success Stories

02012Employment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Little did Mata Sisomnuk dream when she was hired as a cafe attendant that within a few short months, she’d be learning to brew coffee at Starbucks. For a lover of specialty coffees even before she went to work for the country’s largest coffee house chain, this was beyond expectations of a great job.Deafness no barrier to success at Starbuckspwaxc57patrice.vicksuccessstoriescompetitiveintegratedemploymentdisabilityservicesengEmployment success storiesSuccess Story266063SuccessDeafness no barrier to success at StarbucksMata (center) with manager Martin Schaffner and Rise staff member Angela Mannila/dhs/assets/Mata-photo_tcm1053-343072.jpgMata Sisomnuk/dhs/assets/Mata-thumb_tcm1053-343073.jpgSuccess story-Mata<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-343074" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2018-06-18T20:38:20ZLittle did Mata Sisomnuk dream when she was hired as a cafe attendant that within a few short months, she’d be learning to brew coffee at Starbucks. For a lover of specialty coffees even before she went to work for the country’s largest coffee house chain, this was beyond expectations of a great job.1053Mata (center) with manager Martin Schaffner and Rise staff member Angela Mannila Little did Mata Sisomnuk dream when she was hired as a cafe attendant that within a few short months, she’d be learning to brew coffee at Starbucks. For a lover of specialty coffees even before she went to work for the country’s largest coffee house chain, this was beyond expectations of a great job. Store Manager Martin Schaffner and his team of baristas appreciate the good work Mata does. “She does a fabulous job and is very thorough,” he said. “Mata takes great pride in her work and we are all grateful to her because when she’s here, the rest of us can maintain our focus on our customers’ needs while she keeps the restaurant clean.” Rise, a nonprofit agency that provides person-centered employment and job-placement services statewide to people with disabilities, helped Mata in her career-planning and job search. Mata had been working in Rise’s Spring Lake Park production facility on a variety of subcontract production work for 16 years but now wanted a dishwashing job in a community business. When Mata, who is deaf and communicates through American Sign Language (ASL), applied for the position at Starbucks, Martin was more than happy to give her an opportunity. “I think if you take the time to invest in people, they will be appreciative and successful,” he noted. “I never had experience with ASL before but I thought we’d be able to figure out a way to communicate." On Mata’s first day at work, Martin greeted her in ASL. He had taken it upon himself to learn some basic signs so Mata would feel welcome and part of his team right from the start. In Mata’s first few weeks, Angela Mannila, a Rise occupational communication specialist, helped Mata with the tasks required of the job, including washing dishes, taking out garbage, keeping bottles of hand sanitizer filled and cleaning the bathrooms, outside patio and the indoor restaurant areas. Angela stops in about twice a month to check in with Mata and Martin to help ensure all continues to go well. Mata works four-hour shifts, three or four days a week; the remainder of her work week, she’s back working on Rise’s production floor. Mata, who is 39, came from Laos to the United States with her family in 1992. She lives in a group home and takes Metro Mobility to work. In her free time, she enjoys going to the movies, doing embroidery (including her name on her Starbucks apron), and cheering on her boyfriend as he participates on a number of Special Olympics sports teams.3430742018-06-18T20:51:30ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Briana Bergeron’s ability to quickly learn new job tasks and her solid work ethic make her a valued employee at the Taco John’s restaurant where she has worked three days a week since July 2016.Briana thrives on varied, steady workpwaxc57patrice.vickemploymentsuccessstoriesMinnesotadisabilityservicesengBriana thrives on varied, steady workPhoto of Briana, an employment success story/dhs/assets/Briana-photo_tcm1053-341958.jpgPhoto of Briana, an employment success story/dhs/assets/Briana-thumb_tcm1053-341959.jpgSuccess stories-Briana<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-341987" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2018-06-08T20:18:00ZBriana Bergeron’s ability to quickly learn new job tasks and her solid work ethic make her a valued employee at the Taco John’s restaurant where she has worked three days a week since July 2016.1053Briana Bergeron’s ability to learn new job tasks quickly and her solid work ethic make her a valued employee at the Taco John’s restaurant where she has worked three days a week since July 2016. Her Employment Innovations co-workers, with whom she cleans a number of business sites throughout East Central Minnesota two days a week, are equally impressed with her reliability and hard work. In the summer, Briana has also worked on lawn crews throughout the area. Briana came to Rise’s Employment Innovations program in Lindstrom in August 2014 for career planning and employment services. She seems to thrive on the variety of work and enjoys variety in her work week. “At Taco John’s, I take orders and run the cash register, work at the drive-through window, do some food prep and clean the lobby and dining room areas,” she said proudly. “I have really nice co-workers and I think they like the work I do.” She also noted that “Taco Tuesdays” is an especially busy day in the restaurant and one of her favorite days to work. The Taco John manager who hired and worked with Briana at the Forest Lake restaurant praised Briana’s diligence and positive attitude and noted that guests frequently compliment her on her great work ethic and friendliness. Katie Miller, Rise employment support specialist, checks in with Briana about once a week to help ensure everything continues to go well on the job. A 2012 graduate of Cambridge-Isanti High School, Briana lives in a group home with two roommates. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and TV, listening to music, playing computer games, reading her Bible and participating in activities at her church. She has also competed in bowling and swimming in Special Olympics since 2007. She swims in the breast stroke, backstroke, front crawl, and freestyle events with her team, Flyaway Gold.3419872018-06-08T20:25:41ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Minnesotans with disabilities are increasingly experiencing choice and independence. As this happens, professionals in the disability field see success not only for the people they serve but sometimes for people closest to them. Sharla Scullen, who works in fiscal policy for the DHS Disability Services Division, and her son Robby have seen firsthand how well Minnesota’s disability services can work. Disability services in action: Robby gets a place of his ownpwaxc57patrice.vickdisabilitiesemploymentsuccessstoriesMinnesotaDHSengDisability services in action: Robby gets a place of his ownRobby/dhs/assets/Robby-photo_tcm1053-337541.jpgRobby/dhs/assets/Robby-thumb_tcm1053-337542.jpgSuccess Stories-Robby<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-337544" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2018-04-26T22:14:48ZMinnesotans with disabilities are increasingly experiencing choice and independence. As this happens, professionals in the disability field see success not only for the people they serve but sometimes for people closest to them. Sharla Scullen, who works in fiscal policy for the DHS Disability Services Division, and her son Robby have seen firsthand how well Minnesota’s disability services can work. 1053Minnesotans with disabilities are increasingly experiencing choice and independence. As this happens, professionals in the disability field see success not only for the people they serve but sometimes for people closest to them. Sharla Scullen, who works in fiscal policy for the DHS Disability Services Division, and her son Robby have seen firsthand how well Minnesota’s disability services can work. Robby, who receives services under a disabilities waiver, recently moved from a corporate foster care facility he had lived in since 2001 to a townhouse of his own. “So many aspects of Robby’s life have been impacted by his disability, including his ability to choose where and with whom to live,” Sharla said. “We started by asking Robby’s case manager about the possibility of changing where Robby lived and received services. She responded with enthusiasm and excitement, which was awesome!” The case manager gathered information and provided help and guidance as needed and continued to advocate for Robby throughout the process. Robby is now renting a townhouse with the roommate of his choice – a guy he’s known since high school. He is now close to the walking paths and shopping centers he enjoys when he is not working, volunteering and going to church. “With three counties, two case managers, three service providers and two individuals all working together, Robby was able to move out of an adult foster care and get the services he needs in his own place!,” Sharla said.3375442018-04-26T22:14:52ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065For a decade before 2017 Tsering was paid a subminimum wage while working at a sheltered workshop in Minneapolis. In July of that year she made a decision that would change everything. Tsering decided to leave the sheltered workshop to achieve her personal goals, one of those being a job that would pay at least minimum wage. Community Involvement Programs Supported Employment Services was ready to help. Tsering achieving goals, competitive wagepwaxc57patrice.vicksuccessstoriesdisabilitiescompetitiveintegratedemploymentMinnesotaDHSengEmployment success storiesSuccess Story266063SuccessTsering achieving goals, competitive wageTsering/dhs/assets/Tsering-photo_tcm1053-336871.jpgTsering/dhs/assets/Tsering-thumb_tcm1053-336870.jpgTsering achieving goals, competitive wage<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-336872" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2018-04-24T15:11:13ZFor a decade before 2017 Tsering was paid a subminimum wage while working at a sheltered workshop in Minneapolis. In July of that year she made a decision that would change everything. Tsering decided to leave the sheltered workshop to achieve her personal goals, one of those being a job that would pay at least minimum wage. Community Involvement Programs Supported Employment Services was ready to help. 1053One of the most noticeable things about Tsering is her infectious, enduring smile. It’s an asset she now brings to a position she never had before: a job paying a fair wage, working along with others also in competitive employment. For a decade before 2017 Tsering was paid a subminimum wage while working at a sheltered workshop in Minneapolis. In July of that year she made a decision that would change everything. Tsering decided to leave the sheltered workshop to achieve her personal goals, one of those being a job that would pay at least minimum wage. Community Involvement Programs Supported Employment Services was ready to help. During her meeting with CIP, she apologized as she tried to hold back smile after smile while talking about other dreams, including moving out of her family’s home. Achieving that goal, she realized, would require more income and steady hours. Tsering, as well as members of her close-knit family, met with her employment consultant over two weeks to discuss her skills, special interests and community businesses she would like to work for. Less than a month later, Tsering got a chance for a fresh start and was offered a job at a Hampton Inn in a suburb near the one where her family lives. Her job title is public area inspector, which means she is responsible for ensuring public areas are clean to meet the company’s goals for outstanding guest service and financial profitability.3368722018-04-24T15:16:14ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065With some help from staff at Lifeworks, an organization serving people with disabilities, Josh Schultz applied for a grant through the Minnesota Microgrant Partnership, which is administered by The Arc Minnesota and funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The program is designed to support people with disabilities who have financial barriers to achieving their goals. In Schultz’s case, his dreams of being an entrepreneur were held back by his need for viable equipment. Microgrant boosts entrepreneur’s lawn, snow servicepwaxc57patrice.vickMicrograntThe Arc MinnesotadisabilitiesSuccess StoryemploymentMinnesotaDHSengMicrogrant boosts entrepreneur’s lawn, snow serviceJohn Schultz/dhs/assets/Josh%20%28Schultze%29%20Schultz-photo_tcm1053-328207.jpgJosh Schultz/dhs/assets/Josh%20%28Schultze%29%20Schultz-thumb_tcm1053-328208.jpgSuccess Stories-Josh<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-328209" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2018-03-02T18:23:41ZJosh “Schultze” Schultz has been mowing grass, shoveling and snow blowing for as long as he can remember – over 15 years, in fact. Last summer, he decided to make it a career by founding Schultze’s Lawn & Snow Service.1053Josh “Schultze” Schultz has been mowing grass, shoveling and snow blowing for as long as he can remember – over 15 years, in fact. Last summer, he decided to make it a career by founding Schultze’s Lawn & Snow Service. “I’ve had other jobs that I’ve done and it didn’t seem to work out,” Schultz said. “I just decided that it was good idea to start up my own business, be my own boss.” One of the first steps for any aspiring entrepreneur is securing the capital necessary to launch the business, something Schultz has invested plenty of time in. With some help from staff at Lifeworks, an organization serving people with disabilities, Schultz applied for a grant through the Minnesota Microgrant Partnership, which is administered by The Arc Minnesota and funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The program is designed to support people with disabilities who have financial barriers to achieving their goals. In Schultz’s case, his dreams of being an entrepreneur were held back by his need for viable equipment. After receiving a $500 microgrant, Schultz purchased a new leaf blower that he expects will make a big difference in the efficiency of his work. Schultz has other dreams and plans for his business, including purchasing other equipment, marketing and expanding, all the while ensuring jobs are done with quality and care. “I love being my own boss,” Schultz said. Schultze’s Lawn & Snow Service serves Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, and the surrounding area. Contact Josh at 651-900-0856 for more information. For information about the microgrant program go to arcminnesota.org/minnesota-microgrant-program/ or contact the Minnesota Microgrant Partnership at 651-604-8070 or microgrants@arcmn.org.3282092018-03-02T18:30:41ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Cliff Poetz has an active life that includes work, exercise and being a leader in self-advocacy for people with disabilities. He also became a homeowner in 2011 with the help of the Housing Access Services (HAS) program initiated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services in partnership with Arc of Minnesota. Poetz has a developmental disability and receives services under the Medical Assistance Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) home and community-based services waiver. Cliff Poetz: Home ownership rounds out active lifepwaxc57patrice.VickSuccessStoryMinnesotaDHSDisabilityServiceshousingaccesseng2017-10-20T20:24:15ZCliff Poetz: Home ownership rounds out active lifeCliff Poetz/dhs/assets/Cliff-photo_tcm1053-315762.jpgCliff Poetz/dhs/assets/Cliff-thumb_tcm1053-315763.jpgSuccess Stories-Cliff<tcdl:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-315765" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2017-10-20T20:14:45ZCliff Poetz has an active life that includes work, exercise and being a leader in self-advocacy for people with disabilities. He also became a homeowner in 2011 with the help of the Housing Access Services (HAS) program initiated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services in partnership with Arc of Minnesota. Poetz has a developmental disability and receives services under the Medical Assistance Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) home and community-based services waiver. 1053Cliff Poetz has an active life that includes work, exercise and being a leader in self-advocacy for people with disabilities. He also became a homeowner in 2011 with the help of the Housing Access Services (HAS) program initiated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services in partnership with The Arc of Minnesota. Poetz has a developmental disability and receives services under the Medical Assistance Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) home and community-based services waiver. He had been living in public housing in Minneapolis for 10 years before deciding in 2011 he was looking for more privacy and a quieter neighborhood. Poetz met with HAS staff and together they formed a plan to search for a place with the amenities that met his needs and budget. HAS staff found several places and helped Poetz view them until the perfect one was found in Plymouth. It was a condominium that was affordable. Poetz was very interested in moving forward with a purchase. HAS typically helps people rent apartments but purchasing a place made the most sense for Poetz. As part of the process, HAS helped Poetz meet with his brother to weigh the pros and cons of his potential new place. They decided to move forward. HAS staff helped connect Poetz with a mortgage company and attended the closing to ensure he fully understood the parameters of the purchase and agreements. The closing went smoothly and a moving date was set. Poetz said moving day was hectic but wound up fine. HAS helped with moving belongings, getting a bed and assembling it and finding a dresser, chair, table and chairs for his new kitchen. Hennepin County helped in ensuring Poetz had access to providers who knew him well and supported him in his new place. When asked about his neighbors, Poetz says they are great. In fact, he has come to know his neighbor across the hall and has entrusted her with a key in case of emergency. He describes his new place as quiet and more independent than living in public housing. From his condo Poetz enjoys access to a variety of activities, including his job at the Institute for Community Integration at the University of Minnesota. There he helps translate training curricula to make the information more understandable for people with disabilities. He has been a leader in the self-advocacy community for many years and has worked to help educate and empower people with disabilities and their families. For these efforts, he has received several honors, including the 2016 Access Press Charlie Smith Award, named in honor of the founding editor of Minnesota’s disability community news source. Since Poetz moved, the success of Housing Access Services has led to the expansion of the housing access coordination service in the disability waivers. For more information on housing access coordination, contact Disability Hub MN at 1-866-333-2466.3157652017-10-20T20:32:00ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Jessica Knoepfler had a lifelong dream of working with dogs. After completing grooming school, however, she had difficulty keeping up with the pace at big-box grooming salons. Kaposia employment services worked with Jessica to locate a pet grooming employer that would accommodate her needs. Jessica's storypwaxc57Patrice.VickMinnesotaDHSdisabilityservicesemployment firstsuccess storyeng2017-05-17T19:21:45ZJessica's storyJessica Knoepfler grooms a dog at a job she got with the help of Kaposia employment services./dhs/assets/Jessica-600x800_tcm1053-295006.jpgJessica Knoepfler grooms a dog at a job she got with the help of Kaposia employment services./dhs/assets/Jessica-600x600_tcm1053-295000.jpgSuccess Stories-Jessica<tcdl:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-295018" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2017-05-17T19:17:25ZJessica Knoepfler had a lifelong dream of working with dogs. After completing grooming school, however, she had difficulty keeping up with the pace at big-box grooming salons. Kaposia employment services worked with Jessica to locate a pet grooming employer that would accommodate her needs. 1053Jessica Knoepfler had a lifelong dream of working with dogs, stemming from her family's purchase of its first dog, which helped bring her out of her shell. After completing grooming school, however, she had difficulty keeping up with the pace at big-box grooming salons. Kaposia employment services worked with Jessica, who has short-term memory, to locate an pet grooming employer that would accommodate her needs. Working with a smaller pet salon owner was a turning point for Jessica, her mother said. "Brenda was patient and willing to mentor Jessica. She had suggestions on accommodations to help Jess through her learning period, such as using a white board to write instructions out for her daily cut." Through changes in ownership of the salon, Jessica began taking responsibility for everyday running of the business in addition to grooming several dogs per day. When the most recent owner decided to close the business, Knoepfler's parents bought the salon, where she now has another employee and continues to receive support from her Kaposia job coach. "When she was given this chance to fulfill her grooming dream," Jessica's father said, "Jessica's confidence grew in all facets of her life."2950182017-05-17T19:23:46ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Sean Sieleni is a busy guy. “He is so involved in the community and we don’t want to lose that,” said his mother, Leslie Sieleni, of why the family decided to look at an ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account to help finance goods and services Sean will need and want to pursue his interests in the years to come.Saving for an active future in the communitypwaxc57Jeanine.WilsonSuccessstoriesdisabilityservicesMinnesotaDepartment of Human ServicesemploymentcompetitiveintegratedengEmployment success storiesSuccess Story266063SuccessSaving for an active future in the community/dhs/assets/Sean-photo_tcm1053-283190.jpg/dhs/assets/Sean-thumb_tcm1053-283191.jpgSuccess Stories-Sean<tcdl:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-283187" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2017-03-09T19:17:17ZSean Sieleni is a busy guy. “He is so involved in the community and we don’t want to lose that,” said his mother, Leslie Sieleni, of why the family decided to look at an ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account to help finance goods and services Sean will need and want to pursue his interests in the years to come.1053Sean Sieleni is a busy guy. At 16, he is a junior at White Bear Lake High School who often works out several times a day, attends a regular hip hop class, serves on the Special Olympics Board of Directors, goes out for basketball and is acting for the second time in the White Bear Lake Lions Club annual show. He is also now working a few hours each week at Hisdahl’s, a local maker of screen print and embroidered shirts, letter jackets and awards for sports teams and businesses. “He is so involved in the community and we don’t want to lose that,” said his mother, Leslie Sieleni, of why the family decided to look at an ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) account to help finance goods and services Sean will need and want to pursue his interests in the years to come. Care providers, housing and transportation to his job and other activities are among things ABLE funds will help with. “He wants to go to college and that’s a huge expense; he wants to pursue acting, maybe own his own gym, and he wants to drive someday,” she added. Before the ABLE accounts opened in Minnesota this year, Sean’s family had to ask his grandmother to stop putting money into an account for him. It was approaching the $2,000 maximum in cash assets Sean could have and continue to receive publicly paid disability waiver services. With the new Minnesota ABLE Plan, a yearly maximum of $14,000 up to a total maximum of $100,000 can be contributed to an account before the individual’s public benefits are affected. Earnings on accounts and distributions for qualified expenses are not counted as taxable income. Ascensus College Savings administers the Minnesota ABLE Plan. To find out more, visit the <a href="https://savewithable.com/mn/home.html" title="Minnesota ABLE Plan" target="_blank">Minnesota ABLE Plan website</a> or call (888) 609-8872.2831872017-12-26T17:51:55ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Bringing value as an office assistantSuccess StoriesengEmployment success storiesSuccess Story266063SuccessBringing value as an office assistant/dhs/assets/bryce-photo_tcm1053-266062.jpg/dhs/assets/bryce-thumb_tcm1053-266061.jpgSuccess Story-Bryce<tcdl:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-266067" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2016-12-08T22:13:06ZA valued member of the Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. team, Bryce Larson has been making an impact for more than a decade. Bryce’s hard work earned him the Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. Mission/Vision Award for December 2015. 1053A valued member of the Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. team, Bryce Larson has been making an impact for more than a decade. As an office assistant in the Circle Pines location, he stocks products, fills copy machines and handles the recycling throughout the building. Opportunity Partners provides Bryce job coaching although he works independently overall. Bryce’s hard work earned him the Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. Mission/Vision Award for December 2015. He was nominated by Bri Ana Vogel, human resources coordinator in the Circle Pines office. She praised Bryce for the joy he brings to the job, his rapport with co-workers and the pride he takes in his work. While he doesn’t miss the chance to ask others about their weekend and if they caught the latest Vikings game or wrestling match, he is committed to getting his job done and mentoring peers whenever possible. Bryce also has a passion to help the community. Many years ago he began collecting pop tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House. He also participates in events through the Down Syndrome Association, such as Step Up for Down Syndrome, serving as co-captain of the Kraus-Anderson team for the past eight years. Bryce even helped deliver a keynote presentation at the Down Syndrome Association’s regional conference a few years back. He is proud to work for Kraus-Anderson and is a great ambassador in the community, sharing the message that everyone has the ability to make a difference. “Bryce makes a positive impact on the world around him,” Vogel said. “He builds enduring relationships and strong communities. His dedication to integrity, commitment, teamwork, and valuing people make Bryce an exemplary employee who deserves recognition for his countless contributions.” Bryce, who recently celebrated 10 years at Kraus-Anderson Construction with a company lunch, said it feels good to be honored on the job. “I like the people,” he said.2660672016-12-09T20:32:15ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Employment success storiesSuccess Story266063SuccessPositive supports promote personal empowermentpwaxc57Success Storieseng2016-12-01T23:14:43Z2016-12-01T23:15:45Z2016-12-01T23:15:51ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Story266063SuccessPositive supports promote personal empowerment/dhs/assets/Dan-photo_tcm1053-266060.jpg/dhs/assets/Dan-thumb_tcm1053-266059.jpgSuccess Stories-Dan<tcdl:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-266068" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2016-12-01T23:17:57ZMinnesota has a “positive supports rule” to improve the quality of life of people who receive DHS-licensed services. Duluth Regional Care Center has modeled this approach with “Dan,” who has lived in group homes most of his adult life. 1053Minnesota has a “positive supports rule” to improve the quality of life of people who receive DHS-licensed services. It requires providers to avoid use of procedures that may cause pain or humiliation and instead to use a person-centered approach and positive support strategies with people they serve. The strategies build on people’s strengths and teach them skills to communicate and to manage their emotions. The goal is always to maintain a person’s dignity and enhance their well-being. Duluth Regional Care Center has modeled this approach with “Dan,” who has lived in group homes most of his adult life. Since childhood, Dan had worn a soft helmet when he became upset and expressed his frustrations by banging his head on hard objects. When the Duluth agency acquired the group home where Dan was living, staff saw opportunities to help Dan express himself better and to eliminate the helmet. The process included help with various assessments, planning and training from the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Speech and Language Department at the University of Minnesota Duluth Other, simple actions also had positive results. “You don’t have to have a Ph.D. in behavioral analysis to find ways to change or eliminate concerning behaviors,” said Michelle Hooey, DRCC program manager. “Sometimes the simplest things have the most impact.” A digestive problem means that after eating Dan needs to sit up for several minutes, which tests his patience. Now a colorful visual timer helps him understand the passage of time, which reduces anxiety and confusion. Dan can follow a daily routine with a picture calendar showing tooth brushing, range of motion exercises and other things Dan does when he wants to do them. Freedom to pick jeans over khakis, a favorite TV show over a cooking class or sleeping until 11 a.m. on a Saturday leads to a sense of empowerment and satisfaction. Dan still expresses anger and discontent and may even move toward a wall to try to hit his head. But staff have tools to redirect, to express that they understand his frustration, to help him work through what is bothering him and to offer other choices to make his day the best it can be.2660682016-12-09T20:42:58ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Following passion to a jobengEmployment success storiesSuccess Story266063SuccessFollowing passion to a job/dhs/assets/Ryan-photo_tcm1053-266056.jpg/dhs/assets/Ryan-thumb_tcm1053-266055.jpgSuccess Stories-Ryan<tcdl:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-266069" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2016-11-25T23:20:40ZLori Richardson was supporting her son Ryan in trying to find a job, without success. After learning more about online resources, hearing stories from other families and self-advocates and receiving encouragement from workshop sponsors, Lori and Ryan had the tools to chart a path to employment. The training also inspired them to consider alternatives not available in their community. 1053People with disabilities can work and want to work. However, a Cornell University survey found that the employment participation rate for Minnesotans with disabilities was just 54 percent of the rate in the general population. The Olmstead Plan calls on Minnesota to reduce this disparity. Its vision is “People with disabilities will have choices for competitive, meaningful, and sustained employment in the most integrated settings.” The Minnesota Department of Human Services and its partners in the disability community are collaborating to make that vision a reality. “Work is Possible” workshops, sponsored by the Minnesota Association for People Supporting Employment First, are one such collaboration. At the workshops families were given information, tools and hope to make competitive employment a reality. DHS demonstrated its Disability Benefits 101 program and website so attendees could see how they can get a job and still keep public benefits and supports. One attendee, Lori Richardson, was supporting her son Ryan in trying to find a job, without success. After learning more about online resources, hearing stories from other families and self-advocates and receiving encouragement from workshop sponsors, Lori and Ryan had the tools to chart a path to employment. The training also inspired them to consider alternatives not available in their community. Ryan’s interests and strengths were identified. These were translated into an action plan matching his strong passion for airplanes and reflecting his support needs and ideal employment conditions. On his own, Ryan learned about a job fair organized by Sun Country Airlines. Company recruiters at the fair hired him immediately because of his knowledge and passion. He now cleans the airline’s jets and is part of a team of employees who share his interests. Lori says Ryan is “living his dream every single day.” DHS and its partners see success like Ryan’s as possible for many and are working daily to make it happen.2660692016-12-09T20:32:10ZEmployment success storiesSuccess Stories266065Exceeding expectations on the jobengEmployment success storiesSuccess Story266063SuccessExceeding expectations on the job/dhs/assets/Jim-photo_tcm1053-266058.jpg/dhs/assets/Jim-thumb_tcm1053-266057.jpgSuccess Stories-Jim<tcdl:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:1053-266070" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2016-11-18T23:27:28ZResearch confirms that individuals with disabilities have a work ethic that equals or exceeds other employees’. Jim is in the “exceeds” category. With support from Kaposia, Jim has worked at Cub Foods since 2007. He cleans windows and doors throughout the store until they shine. It took Jim a while to master this job, but he was determined to get it right and kept improving until he could proudly proclaim, “I always do it with no streaks or smudges!” 1053Research confirms that individuals with disabilities have a work ethic that equals or exceeds other employees’. Jim is in the “exceeds” category. With support from Kaposia, Jim has worked at Cub Foods since 2007. He cleans windows and doors throughout the store until they shine. It took Jim a while to master this job, but he was determined to get it right and kept improving until he could proudly proclaim, “I always do it with no streaks or smudges!” Jim has also taken on more responsibility at Cub Foods, filling bags for foodshelves and making sure his co-workers meet his high standards. When Jim is on the job, it’s done right. The friendliness and positive attitude Jim brings to his workplace has earned him friends among Cub Foods employees. Many of us hit times when life throws us a curve. That happened to Jim in the summer of 2015. He needed to move out of the apartment where he had lived for many years, and a new home was not readily available. He was living with a family member for a while as one option after another fell through. While those kinds of disruptions can negatively impact anyone’s job, Jim highly valued his job and continued to do his best. Meanwhile, the job gave him some much needed continuity and stability during a difficult transition period. Jim now has a new home. When he had his apartment, he could walk to Cub Foods, arriving early to have a cup of coffee and do a word-find puzzle. Now it takes him longer to get to work and he needs to start working when he arrives. But Jim has made the necessary adjustments. He values his job and is a valued member of the team at Cub Foods.2660702016-12-09T20:32:05Z