When Building Bridges Changes a Life
Jim, a man with mild mental retardation, started his adult life living with his mother and surviving on his social security checks. Although a very capable young man, he had little hope for independence without having an advocate to assist him in his search for meaningful employment. Bridges began working with Jim in 1994, and a position was found at Penloyd that was a great match for his interests and abilities. Today his life looks very different. He no longer receives checks from the government; he supports himself fully from his paycheck; he lives on his own, and he still loves his job at Penloyd. Jim’s life was dramatically changed because he was given an opportunity to succeed.
Jonathan began working with Bridges in 2001, and just recently started taking part in our Living Skills Program. Although Jonathan had been living with a residential care giver for many years, Dawn Harig (the Bridges Living Skills Teacher) knew that Jonathan had the capability to live on his own. Dawn began working one-on-one with Jonathan to strengthen his independent living skills. At the age of 57, Jonathan successfully opened a banking account, rented an apartment, set up his utilities, bought his own household items and moved out on his own for the first time. The pride he feels is evident on his face every time he smiles while telling someone about this latest accomplishment.
Jennifer is a young woman with a mild cognitive disability who started working in the Bridges Outsource Center straight out of high school. The Outsource Center provided a safe place for Jennifer to learn how to be a good employee, and in no time she had moved into a Community Work Group, providing cleaning services to area businesses. She was so successful in working in the community that when a position opened on a manufacturing team at a local sign company, Jennifer was more than qualified for the job. As Jennifer continues to become more and more integrated into the community, her wages, independence and self-confidence all continue to rise.
Prader-Willi Syndrome is a rare disorder where an individual is missing the chromosome controlling hunger. People with Prader-Willi Syndrome never feel full and they will do anything possible to satisfy their hunger. Because of this, clients with this condition require constant supervision and most vocational agencies simply cannot serve them. In 2008 Bridges accepted Katie, a young woman with Prader-Willi Syndrome, as a client in the workshop. Katie quickly proved herself as a capable employee and a fast learner. Because of Katie’s success, Bridges has since opened its doors to 4 other clients with Prader-Willi Syndrome, clients that were previously unable to receive vocational support. Bridges has identified a need in our city, and with your help, we hope to start a work group designed specifically for these individuals.
