Chris is a gentleman who lives at home with his parents. He’s associated with Community Living Timmins Vic Mahoney Day Program.
A while back, he participated in an interview process to improve supports for people, as well as develop better interviewing skills and practices for myself and our Executive Director.
It became apparent that, although Chris enjoyed the Day Program, he wanted more. He wanted a part time job that provided him with more spending money. What to do? This didn’t sound like a complex problem that required months of planning.
We followed through with a Using Gifts to build Contributions exercise with family and Day Program staff. It confirmed what Chris had told us – that shredding was something he enjoyed and was good at.
Here comes the Family Affair! Chris’s sister is my nephew’s partner. They both work at KIA TIMMINS for my brother Bruce Stewart and his wife Rosemary. When I asked Chris if he would like to join his sister in gainful employment, his response was physical and forced the air out of my lungs. It took a while for Chris to get over hugging me and the ED.
Chris took the city bus by himself to KIA. Chris’s sister set him up in his new work station with job expectations. She made sure he got his breaks and got home at the end of the day.
Chris is now a regular part-timer at KIA. Everyone at the business is good with Chris and he is a proud and more fulfilled person for it. He tells me regularly of his work there and how well he’s doing.
He’s definitely added more meaning to my appreciation of family!
Brenda Beaudoin
Community Living Timmins Integration Communautaire
December 2008
