More Than a Paycheck

Meaningful employment empowers individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges earn sustainable wages, give back to their communities and live their best possible life. Easterseals PORT Health’s (ESPH) employment programs fully support individuals once they’ve secured a job, including assistance with on-the-job training and addressing challenges that may arise while working.

Amy is a job coach with ESPH’s Supported Employment program in Jacksonville, NC. She and her team provide one-on-one assistance to help people with developmental disabilities explore what interests them, understand their skillsets, develop job skills and learn what it takes to keep a job.

Hank working at Crumbl Cookies.

Amy successfully helped Hank write a great resume before helping him find a job at Crumbl Cookies. They also worked together to make sure Hank learned the necessary skills to be successful at work. Today, Amy continues to provide on-the-job support and ongoing coaching to help him excel as a Crumbl Cookies employee.

“Having Amy as Hank’s job coach gave my son the support he needed to be successful at his first job. It helped Hank to know someone was there to help guide him, ” shares Hank’s mom. “Amy helped him learn how to clock in, take the required breaks and understand his job duties and who was his boss. As they worked together, Amy helped Hank master these skills and coached him on who to ask for help.”

In addition to assisting Hank understand his basic work duties, Amy helps Hank proactively navigate potential scenarios he might encounter to avoid him from feeling overwhelmed.

When reflecting on Hank’s growth, his mom says Amy’s support made a big difference. “Amy observed potential triggers for Hank and helped him navigate through them,” shares his mom. “When he felt overwhelmed by the Point of Sale (POS) system and filling orders, they collaborated with the supervisor to identify alternative job duties that he could more successfully manage. By following Amy’s example, Hank learned to manage conflict and communicate effectively with his employer, ensuring he could fulfill his job duties to the best of his ability.”

“When I think of where he started and what he has been able to accomplish, I am amazed. He has grown and transformed into a confident and capable employee. Each day he wakes up excited to go to work and successfully performs his job duties. He comes home smiling, often with a free cookie in hand. Through Amy’s guidance and support, Hank has been able to overcome his fears and gain the skills needed for his job. This progress would not have been possible without an amazing job coach like Amy by his side!”

Thank you Amy for the amazing support you provide and to Hank’s mom for sharing their story. Learn more about our Supported Employment program at eastersealsport.com/supported-employment.

ABOUT US Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing exceptional disability, mental health and substance use services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Purpose, dedication and empathy drive our in-person and telehealth service delivery. Our diverse and inclusive 2,800 member team provides more than 10.2 million hours of meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com.