To continue our celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we are sharing a story of success through our supported employment program. Alexis has been working at the YMCA in Norwich, NY, for four years. She works in the child care center, where she enjoys leading craft activities, especially with Play-Doh or Legos. Alexis has been working with Mary, an employment specialist, since her first day at the YMCA. Alexis and Mary work well together; they are comfortable with each other and have a strong foundation of trust, making coaching easy. Alexis has grown a lot in the past four years. She has become more confident in using her voice to maintain a safe and calm environment in the classroom, and she takes the initiative to come up with new activities and complete annual trainings. Alexis remarked that she “always has such a good time” working at the YMCA and would like to continue her career there far into the future.
