Jonathan’s Small Engine Repair

By Carol Dossett
Program Director, Little Bitterroot Services, Inc.
A Montana Consumer Controlled Career Demonstration Site

LITTLE BITTERROOT SERVICES, INC. (LBSI) helps people with disabilities live, work, and recreate in their communities. LBSI is a small agency serving fewer than 25 people at a time. We receive referrals for services from all over the state. That is how we got the chance to serve Jonathan.

When we first met Jonathan five years ago he was tall and lanky with longish hair and a shy, friendly face. He looked in need of some good vocational and social planning. He needed a life and was ready and willing to do anything we wanted him to do to get this new life on track—he became a model consumer in our eyes.

Jonathan was able to keep up this model facade for about a month. Then he became belligerent and staff had to constantly guess what he wanted. When we guessed correctly, all was well; but when we didn’t, he would tell us in a loud voice and with profane gestures exactly what he wanted. We finally realized that he was depressed and feeling worthless, possibly as a result of the trauma of witnessing his little brother’s death, his only sibling. Jonathan was clearly crying out for help.

Once we realized that he was depressed, we immediately made an appointment for him with mental health professionals. Before he could attend his first therapy session, another tragedy struck Jonathan—he was injured in a house fire and explosion and rushed to the Seattle Burn Center. Jonathan was plunged into intensive care followed by lengthy physical rehabilitation. It was in Intensive Care, he told us later, that his little brother’s voice spoke to him and said, “It is not your time yet.” Jonathan said this kept him alive during a time when he had no other reason to hang onto life.

Jonathan returned to Little Bitterroot Services a year-and-half later, more deeply depressed and thinner than we’d ever seen him before. We knew we had our work cut out for us. Jonathan was so unhappy he could not even say hello to anyone. We entered into a tug of war with him. If Jonathan didn’t do this, we’d do that. If he’d promise to quit this behavior we’d let something slide. He continued to deteriorate until it became a life or death situation and we pulled out all the stops. Doctors visits, middle of the night trips across the state for treatment, and trips to the west coast for operations followed as we tried to keep him alive and interested in life. Jonathan was telling us he didn’t want us or need us and finally he told us that he didn’t even LIKE us.

Enter Dave Hammis, the Rural Institute, and the Montana Consumer Controlled Careers project. Dave and one of our staff sat down with Jonathan and wrote a PASS plan (Plan for Achieving Self Support). They listened as Jonathan explained that he didn’t want us (or our services) in any way, shape, or form. He stated that his dream was to work in a shop that repaired lawn mowers (he was fascinated with them). Jonathan’s Small Engines was born. The PASS plan bought the tools and training that Jonathan needed to open his own business. He leases space in a repair shop and provides repair and cleaning support for the larger business. The business owner keeps a commission on all of Jonathan’s work and Jonathan receives up to $21.00 per hour for his work.

Jonathan has left our services. His PASS plan and business have been such a success that Jonathan has been able to purchase his dream home—a light, bright, and airy place—a sharp contrast to Jonathan’s darkest moments.