Enjoying Life
By David Eaton, Daryl Wiltshire, and David Hammis
While enjoying life each day, here's a thought we identify with:
So far today I've done alright. I haven't gossiped, haven't lost my temper, haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overly indulgent. But in a few minutes I am going to get out of bed, and from then on, I am probably going to need a little more help.
Enjoying life is such a simple yet profound proposition, but many of us forget to enjoy life while we are in the fray of daily activities and demands. But Jerry Miller never forgets to enjoy life. Jerry is a not-so-chronologically-young man with a disability who has a youthful spirit, He lives in Livingston, Montana. Jerry gets up each day on the right side of the bed. He brightens not only his own life but his family's lives and those who have the privilege of knowing and encountering him during his day—everyday. When Jerry smiles or winks at you, he energizes your life. You can feel his joy and it reflects back on you.
Jerry has received services from Counterpoint, Inc. since the agency began back in 1976. Counterpoint provides vocational and residential services to adults with disabilities in Livingston. Its mission is to "Nurture Personal Growth and Support Meaningful Lives." Jerry does need "a little more help" and Counterpoint provides the supports he needs to live and work in the Livingston community.
Most people that know Jerry would agree that his likes and dislikes are obvious. He has demonstrated a significant interest in the Denver Bronco's since his niece lived in Denver and had the privilege of meeting John Elway and his family. And he certainly enjoys working. Over the years Jerry has worked on janitorial and window washing contract work crews with local employers, including folding towels. He had a job once at the local high school on a crew folding towels and he still reminisces about that community employment opportunity years ago. He especially enjoys copying work and all office-type work.
This year Counterpoint has focused its attention on developing a new community employment opportunity with and for Jerry. Twila Marchetti, one of Counterpoint's two community employment consultants, began putting together the pieces of Jerry's puzzle to develop a job in Livingston that would both compliment Jerry's interests and meet an employer's needs.
Twila used her knowledge of local employers and Livingston's economic needs in job developing for Jerry. One evening Twila noticed Pam Schoenen, the co-owner of Firehall Fitness Center, at the photocopy store making hundreds of copies for her business while her daughter waited impatiently. Twila remembered Jerry's interest in sports and his photocopying skills and told Daryl Wiltshire, the Vocational Coordinator at Counterpoint, about Pam's photocopy needs. Daryl talked to Pam about hiring Jerry at the Firehall Fitness Center to do the copying, and the possibility that Jerry could buy the copier he would use at the job. This employee-owned resource model of employment is similar to the idea that mechanics who work for a company use their own tools on the job. Pam Schoenen was interested in hiring Jerry and the creative idea of an employee-owned copier.
Counterpoint also invited Jerry to participate in a year-long training and technical assistance project with the Rural Institute and invited the Rural Institute's Organization Consultant, David Hammis, to follow-up meetings with Pam Schoenen and Jerry's family. Jerry's joyful outlook on life has inspired everyone to help with his community employment opportunity. Jerry will start his new job this fall, which satisfies his preferences for a summer vacation at home and matches Firehall's increased workload in the Fall.
David Eaton and Daryl Wiltshire work at Counterpoint, Inc. in Livingston, Montana. David Hammis is an Organizational Consultant at the Rural Institute and Project Director of the Montana Consumer Controlled Careers Project.