We’re excited to announce Ms. Kathy Bell as the winner of the Employment Champion Award for the West Region, given by Employment and Community First CHOICES!
Agencies providing Employment and Community First CHOICES services across the state were recently asked to nominate Direct Support Professionals (DSP’s) who are making a significant difference in the lives they support. Each region chose two winners from all the nominees. MHDS is so proud that Kathy Bell was chosen for her outstanding efforts to improve the employment prospects of someone she worked with. Their story follows.
When MHDS began supporting Adam, the primary challenge was to get him involved in the community and to find places he liked to go due to his very narrow interests. Video games and Disney movies were the topic of every conversation. Because of his inability to focus on anything but these subjects, Adam’s parents found it hard to imagine that he would be able to gain and keep employment in the community. They decided to help him start a business with candy machines. They were able to place 7 machines in 5 businesses in their hometown but realized they did not have the time to help him promote and expand his business to allow it to be a viable income source for him. They expressed that to MHDS and staff person/DSP, Kathy Bell, really saw that as an opportunity to forge a relationship and help Adam.
Kathy helped Adam develop a sales pitch to use when he went into a prospective business concentrating on not drifting into conversations about his preferred topics. She practiced with him daily the words to say and how to deliver the message. Soon Adam had the ability and confidence he needed to talk to retail outlets about placing more of his vending machines. Adam has now placed 46 candy machines in 26 businesses in 4 different towns in the area. He and Kathy are still working hard on finding new businesses to place machines. Adam’s business has become a good source of income for him and broadened his interests and abilities to integrate in the community. Adam’s mom, Jane, states “Kathy genuinely wants to help Adam and others reach their goals. Kathy is a caring person that is well informed and understanding of her son’s needs.” An added benefit is Adam’s ability to engage in broader conversations and activities within the community. Kathy’s interest and persistence to see Adam succeed have paid dividends to him in multiple and lasting ways. Kathy is an exemplary and dedicated credit to her profession.
We love sharing new stories in our Supported Employment Spotlight with you!
Faye is a hard worker and has always enjoyed having work to do. She’s very successful in her current job. Her job coach, employer, and the MHDS Supported Employment Manager all have nothing but praise for Faye!
Read her success story here.