Amanda Graduates

by Todd Gorman, Vocational Specialist
Job Connection, Inc.

Graduating from high school is scary enough for most of us. Not knowing what we want to do with our lives vocationally can be an intimidating experience for anyone. But when you have limited vocational support in your community and no work experience, the task ahead of finding a job and being part of your community can be overwhelming.

Amanda graduated from Laurel High School in 1998, and had no idea what and where she was going to work after graduation. Her mother, Linda, recounts that Amanda always loved school, all the support she received there, and the friends and teachers that played such an important part in her development. School gave Amanda a sense of security and belonging. After graduating, Linda didn't know what the future had in store for her daughter. Having little information on where to find career guidance and the on-the-job support that Amanda would need, Linda was worried that Amanda would be sitting around doing nothing for some time. Linda knew about supported employment and what it had to offer her daughter, but the closest social service agencies were based in Billings, about 18 miles from Laurel, and there was no public transportation between the communities. The supported employment agencies in Billings also have limitations of their own—they lacked the staff and funding to reach out to the rural communities in the area. Linda knew all this and did not know where to turn to help her daughter move on with her life and enter the world of work.

In October of 1998, Amanda's fall after graduation, The University of Montana's Rural Institute made grant funds available through their Montana Rural Employment Initiative to help adults with disabilities in rural areas find employment. Job Connection, Inc., located in Billings, obtained a grant to job develop and train specifically outside the Billings community. Laurel was targeted for this project because it was in desperate need of supported employment services. Job Connection's first customer and first job placement was Amanda.

Amanda started her first job at Ben Franklin Arts and Crafts in Laurel as a courtesy clerk. Her duties include vacuuming and light cleaning and most of her day is filled with stocking shelves and helping customers. Her job coach, Kim, stated the first week Amanda was shy and nervous because the whole work experience for her was so new and intimidating. Amanda is an extremely likable and sweet young lady, but in her new surroundings she acted introverted. She was so shy she did not talk to anyone but her job coach. By week two though, Amanda was so happy with her job and her co-workers that her true personality came to the forefront. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Amanda's supervisor, Rod, is thrilled to have Amanda as an employee and to have her be part of the Ben Franklin family. He is pleased with the amount of time and energy she puts into her work and the cheerful attitude she brings to the job. "She is such a joy and lighthearted, once she got comfortable with us," said Rod. Kim stated that when they first started the job, Amanda had reservations about the kind of work she would be doing and whether she would like it. "She loves her job and all the different things she does around the store," she said. "She now helps the customers find items and is so comfortable with her co-workers that the good natured teasing that goes around is sometimes initiated by Amanda."

Linda says that working in the community has given Amanda a sense of security and belonging, just like she had when she was in school. "She has always loved school," Linda stated, "and now she loves her job…nothing has changed." Kim says the biggest change she sees in Amanda after four months is that she has become so outgoing and comfortable. "Amanda is really growing as a person and her personality is so contagious that she creates, unknowingly, a better place to work for her co-workers and customers."