Amy was finishing her last year of high school. She was excited to find a job and begin adult life. But finding a job on her own was tough. She learned that the job market was competitive. And she didn’t know what skills she had and where those skills might fit in. She knew she needed a helping hand. So she turned to Goodwill for support.
She learned about a program called the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). This program helps people who are between the ages of 18 and 21 years old. A Goodwill job coach will work alongside someone while they learn and become confident in their job duties. Support may include help with learning about a new workplace, communicating with coworkers, and problem-solving. The program also helps people understand paychecks and develop a workflow.
Assessing skills and abilities
She learned how to meet employers and share her employment goals, skills, and abilities. Then, she enrolled in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) program. This program helps people in similar ways as DDA. But this program offers a hands-on job assessment at Goodwill. This assessment helps people learn what skills they have and what skills they may need to develop in the workplace. And this was exactly what Amy needed.
Landing the right job and overcoming challenges
Her biggest employment goal was finding a job in her community where she could garden or be in arts and crafts. After discovering her skills through the DVR job assessment, Amy was referred back to DDA for her job placement. A DDA employment specialist helped her apply to jobs she had an interest in. Then Amy got a job at her favorite crafts store. She was thrilled to get a job in her community and a place where she found so much joy shopping.
With the support from the store’s management team, Amy learned skills such as folding, organizing, and displaying items for retail stores. In the last year, the craft store has trained Amy to do many tasks beyond folding clothes, like straightening aisles, stocking shelves, and putting away returns.
Gaining independence and confidence
Amy has grown in her self-confidence. She works independently, stays focused, asks questions, and finishes tasks. She no longer needs someone working next to her. Now, when Amy encounters challenges that may be a bit overwhelming, she takes time to think and find solutions. She no longer has outbursts or shuts down. Instead, she asks for more tasks and learning opportunities. Amy is very well liked by her teammates. She works independently and is dedicated to doing a good job for her team at the craft store.
Amy has a kind and bubbly personality. Her attitude brings happiness to anyone in her presence. She’s a great team member and an asset to her employer. She’s thankful for all the support she got from Goodwill. “With Goodwill, my life is good and great.”
This story was updated in 2024.