Focus Newsletter Building Opportunities....Enriching Lives
October 2012
All the Right Stuff We all know the face of happiness when we see it. But Lawanda’s face was the definition of “ecstatic” when she learned that she had been hired as a regular employee at Community Care of Central Wisconsin (CCCW). “Lawanda was being very patient, but we all knew how much she really wanted this job,” said Ann Lepak, Employment Resources Manager at ODC in Wisconsin Rapids. “When we told her, the look on her face was overwhelming. She walked through the entire ODC facility and told everyone she met!” Lawanda has worked at the Wisconsin Rapids ODC facility for many years when she found herself ready for a change. So as Lawanda was working at ODC, the employment team were doing their jobs, actively recruiting local businesses to hire ODC workers that could fill their unmet needs. Lawanda’s position at CCCW is a great example of the “customized employment” model – her job was created after CCCW identified tasks that were part of someone else’s traditional job description but that weren’t getting done. In mid-July, ODC employment staff met with CCCW representatives to develop a “trial” position for Lawanda. She would be working at their facility for four weeks; her primary responsibilities would include cleaning tables and chairs in the conference room and employee break room. She would work for one hour every week. CCCW staff were so impressed with Lawanda’s professionalism and work ethic that after four weeks, they had determined that they wanted to hire her. They did, however, want to add some new tasks to her position description – dusting the bottoms of chairs and washing windows in the facility’s entryway. “We knew after the four week trial that she was to be hired,” said Ann. “But we also knew that she would need some extra support and training to learn and complete these additional tasks.” Sue King, Lawanda’s ODC job coach, went to work. Lawanda was given an additional four week trial period at CCCW while she also practiced her new tasks at ODC. Sue purchased a duster with an extended handle so Lawanda could use it to dust chair legs. She worked with Lawanda to practice cleaning windows at ODC. She put arrows on the walls at CCCW, to assist Lawanda in getting to the areas she needed to clean. Even though Lawanda wasn’t sure how she would accomplish her new tasks,” said Ann, “she was always positive and always willing to try. Because she was able to work through her barriers here at ODC, she was confident in her ability to succeed at CCCW.” Why did Lawanda dream of taking on a job outside of ODC? “I wanted to be more independent,” she said. “I like washing and cleaning and I’m good at it.” How did Lawanda get to this important place in her life? Said Lawanda, “You guys taught me the right stuff.”