With the help of his employment consultant at Stone Belt, FF interviewed at Hobby Lobby two weeks ago and landed a part-time position in the stock room. A week ago Thursday he attended a training session and signed all the necessary paperwork, and last week he worked a 4 hour and a 6 1/2 hour shift. He was one tired, but happy hombre.
The Pilgrims and Powhatans may have started the giving thanks tradition, but let me tell you, they got nothin' on us. Just days before Thanksgiving, we are so grateful to:
- Stone Belt, for its continued support;
- his Stone Belt employment consultant, Delyn, for slogging through all of the online applications,for knowing who to call, and for taking the time to get to know FF;
- Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation, for making it possible for FF to work with Stone Belt;
- Hobby Lobby, for being the kind of company willing to take a chance;
- to Hobby Lobby's managers, for saying yes to Delyn, and for starting slowly and not throwing him to the wolves on Black Friday;
- to Bloomington Transit for putting a bus stop right in front of Hobby Lobby (we're still practicing bus riding);
- and to FF--for stepping up and making it happen.
FF's days at Hobby Lobby will be spent unpacking boxes and stocking shelves. Initially, he'll be supported by Delyn, acting as his job coach, who will back him up as he learns new skills and know when to back away as he learns to stand on his own two feet. (Great little animated video here, by the way, on how job coaching works in supported employment.)
Why would Hobby Lobby want to take a chance, giving a first job to an 18-year-old with high functioning autism who is somewhat awkward (but eager), has some pretty limiting fine motor skills, and who gives away the ending to Skyfall to a co-worker on his first day on the job? Sure there's always the altruistic "It's the right thing to do" response, but I think there's probably a more multifaceted answer to that question. First, this probably isn't the first time Hobby Lobby has hired a person with disabilities and they've probably learned a few things along the way.
- In general people with disabilities make pretty good employees, in that they're dependable, loyal, and productive.
- There are a number of incentives available to companies who hire employees with disabilities, including tax credits and training programs.
- Hiring an entry level employee referred from VR or a local employment consultant means the company didn't have to spend as much money recruiting applicants for that position.
- The disability community is large when you add family members and friends, which means by hiring someone with a disability, you may have just broadened your customer base. (Feel the need to go shopping? Hobby Lobby has 525 stores in 42 states--or just click here. And, no, they're not paying me to put in the promo!)
- Employees with disabilities can be supported by job coaches and an agency of people with expertise in training, accommodating, communicating with and successfully including people with disabilities. In other words, FF comes backed up by a pretty deep bench.
He also comes with a couple of skills of his own that could help Hobby Lobby. Need something off a top shelf? He's 6'5" and has quite the wingspan. Can't remember what item goes where? Give him a few months and get him interested, and chances are FF will be able to recite stock numbers and shelf locations with ease. He's got one of those memories.
I'm sure there are things that we'll have to work through. Rest assured, the Mom Alert System is not switched off; it remains at DEFCON Yellow. But for now I'll hold down the worries about the social stuff, how easily he could annoy a co-worker, his low tolerance for frustration, how quickly he becomes bored of mundane tasks. For now, I'll do the Scarlett O'Hara and think about those things tomorrow, because today I'm smiling and doing the happy dance.
He. Has. A. Job!
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