I grew up with a neighborhood kid who had Cerebral Palsy; he was friends with my brother. He was never the “kid with a disability.” He was just one of us, and we all looked out for him and included him in everything. That neighborhood kid is still a good friend of my family. He works at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station through our Employment and Vocational Services department, and I generally take some time to check in with him when making site visits on the base.
When I started 10 years ago, it was a matter of working closer to home, but it quickly became a place where I felt I could make a difference in someone’s life. Starting in payroll, I remember the man they placed in our building to clean. He was on the quiet side, but personable just the same. When he received his first paycheck, he opened it in my office. His eyes got very wide, he grinned from ear to ear, and exclaimed, “WOW… I made that much money?”
My response was, “No. You earned that much money. You should be very proud of yourself.” Just the amount of pride he had in that paycheck, which was minimal compared to others, made me realize more than ever that I was in the right place.
I have had the pleasure of supporting the Pre-Voc program, setting up field trips, taking individuals on outings, and being part of their everyday purpose within our building. There is such a warm feeling when you walk onto the floor, with everyone saying hello and filling you in on what is happening in their lives. I am truly blessed.
Taking over the Supportive Employment role and now the Supported Service role, I have found a niche where I can work with anyone in any situation. I keep striving with their best interests in mind to help them work towards the goals and aspirations they are looking to achieve. I have had some difficult cases. One person could only work six hours a week. After two years of applying to multiple places and not giving up, she was finally hired in a local school district and is thriving! My job coaches are strong advocates for our individuals and tremendous supports, on and off the clock.
They say you are only as good as your team; I don’t think of myself as a supervisor, just another team member.
Debbie Amacher