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Creating Opportunities for Employment in the Community: One Family's Success Story
A core part of the Supporting Families framework is the idea that building strong connections and relationships within their home community can help families create a quality, meaningful life for their loved ones with disabilities.
It's also critical to plot a course towards a positive future for a family member with a disability starting early by encouraging youth with disabilities to have high expectations.
Christi Rice, a graduate of the Council's Partners in Policymaking leadership training program, illustrates these concepts with this story about helping her son find a job.
"My 17-year-old son, Wesley, who happens to have intellectual and developmental disabilities, wanted a job. So we found one.
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It started with a special trial work day organized by Open Doors TN, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities to families that experience disability, this past summer in Knoxville. A local sandwich shop “opened its doors” to give folks with disabilities a chance to work and earn a paycheck for one day. Wesley was so excited at the idea of working and getting paid to do so. We showed up and he worked hard."
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From that moment, Wesley wanted and expected to work, so Christi began talking to friends, family and community members about finding a local business that would give him an opportunity, just like any other teenager.
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A family connection led the Rice family to Alan Sims, the owner of Menchie’s, a frozen yogurt shop. Wesley went for an interview and told Mr. Sims, “I really want this job”. He’s been working at Menchie’s since July and because of how well it has worked out, this business is exploring how to create more opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the community.
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This is a great example of how building high expectations for a meaningful life and utilizing community connections can not only benefit a single family, but an entire community.
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Menchie's team member, Wesley Rice, and his leader, Alan Sims. (Photo by a Menchie’s Team Member.)
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Read more about the Rice family's experiences and the work Menchie's is doing to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities in the Council's next issue of "Breaking Ground" magazine.
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Question of the Month
Are there ways your community generates opportunities for community members with disabilities to showcase their gifts, talents and strengths?
Let us know - we want to hear from you.
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Taylore and Jacob, son and daughter of Joanne Cunningham
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Leisa Hammet and Grace Goad, mother and daughter
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TN Supporting Families Team News
The Council and DIDD hosted a third 'Lunch and Learn' event for various state agencies in February. TN Disability Pathfinder, the state's information and referral service for disability resources, talked about the help they provide to families and professionals looking for help with navigating the service system and accessing all different kinds of supports. Pathfinder also discussed the community trainings they provide all across the state and their outreach work to members of the refugee, immigrant and multicultural communities of TN.
Stay tuned for more details about recent and upcoming Supporting Families activities!
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What is the Supporting Families project?
The Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities and Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities are the state leaders of the Supporting Families Community of Practice in TN. The purpose of this initiative is to evaluate how Tennessee is doing in providing support to families who have a family member with developmental disabilities. This grant is funded by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Visit the Supporting Families website to learn more! You can also read Building a National Agenda for Supporting Families with a Member with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Connect via email or social media with the national Community of Practice to stay updated on national news regarding this project.
At any time, if you have questions about this project, want materials about the Supporting Families framework/initiative, would like to schedule a presentation about this initiative, or have ideas about future activities we might pursue, please let us know at emma.shouse@tn.gov or 615-253-5368.
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Need information about
disability resources in your community?
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