Ingredients for a Successful Life

Meet Daniel Spurline

Daniel is almost a Safeway institution, know throughout the local community for being outgoing and gregarious. He is good at his job, partly because it is an excellent match for Daniel's personality and abilities. But there are other important components to his success.

From the beginning Daniel's parents set the bar high. His mom states Daniel was raised the same as any other child, "because he was any other child." Daniel was given the same tools as his brother and sister to grow into a contributing member of society. Equally important, his great upbringing grew into a supportive adult relationship with his parents, and now they are an integral part of his employment team.

The Aberdeen Safeway is one of the busiest Safeways in the Pacific Northwest region. Daniel has worked there six years. No employer could be more supportive. The store manager, assistant manager and his co-workers provide mentoring and support on each of his shifts and consider themselves as members of Daniel's team. There is an open line of communication between store associates, Morningside, Daniel's parents, and Daniel himself.

Daniel has helped bring diversity to Safeway. He has made good friends at work, some with disabilities and some without. Perhaps his best friend is John, a longtime checker who accompanies Daniel to sporting events, day trips out of town, and just hanging out.

Daniel is the definition of the term "magnetic personality". Some of the regular customers choose a checkout stand just because Daniel is stationed there, no matter how long the line is. Many customers greets Daniel by name, and he received a letter of commendation for remembering and using customers' names.

Daniel wants everyone to know he gets up early in the morning five days a week and rides the bus to work, just like everyone else. He works hard. His favorite memory of his career so far was when Morningside presented Safeway with an award for being an Outstanding Employer. He knows they truly are, and feels lucky to be part of theteam.

A Tip of His Hat and a Cheerful Hello

Meet Thomas Skerbeck

For the past three years, mornings at Pacific Office Equipment (POE) in Port Angeles have been a little brighter. Not only does Thomas Skerbeck make POE a cleaner, more customer friendly environment, but he also spreads cheer with a "good morning" and a smile. 

The match between POE and Thomas is a unique story that shows how friendship and mutual respect can blossom into a working relationship. For several years, Thomas has been part of Morningside's Group Supported Employment Program on a janitorial contract crew at UPS.  Thomas had worked in this program for more than 10 years and when first approached, was not sure he wanted to work in the community on his own job.

On his days off, Thomas spent some time at the YMCA working out and staying in shape. Thomas became friends with another gym member who happened to be the owner of POE - also named Tom. When an employment need opened up at POE Tom immediately called Morningside and said he wanted Thomas to work for him.

Thomas' tasks on Monday, Wednesday and Friday include vacuuming, emptying trash, cleaning bathrooms and collecting and shredding confidential documents. Tom says, "Everyone loves having Thomas around - he is a ray of sunshine. He does a great job and has become an important part of our team."

Thomas' family was initially very skeptical about his working in the community, particularly regarding the issues of safety and vulnerability. Since he has started working they have seen him develop a greater sense of independence. Now he is always talking about work and how much he likes his job. Without work Thomas would not be able to take his treasured vacations to Kiwanis Club, Special Olympics events and, of course, Las Vegas.

Step By Step - A Journey Towards Employment

Garrett Hicks has what most people would call "personality plus". As a Chehalis tribal member, college student and the occasional Twin Star Dollar Dog mascot at Onalaska High School sporting events, he is really on the go.

Looking to reach his dream of community employment, Garrett has been working with Morningside in the Lewis County Transitions Program. Through collaboration with Onalaska High School, Centralia College and the Lewis County Developmental Disability Program, Morningside has been able to work with Garret on bus training, time management, social skills and preparing for work in the community.

Garrett began his current path to employment by attending the East Lewis County Job Club. He learned what employers are looking for, interviewing skills, developed a resume, how to communicate on the job with the boss and co-workers and his employment interest areas. "He has really come a long way from where he started" says Mr. Rahn (special education teacher at Onalaska High School).

Taking the next step, Garrett enrolled in the Adult Basic Education program at Centralia College. Here he has been able to expand his horizons and work on continuing his education. The importance of time management has been reinforced by the need to independently ride the rural transit system from his home to the campus.

Last fall Garrett decided he was ready to look for a job. He made application to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and was determined eligible. Garrett is also eligible for vocational services through the Chehalis Tribe. After an assessment in the local market in Onalaska, Garret has begun the last leg of his journey. Garrett and Morningside staff is actively looking for a job.

Garrett's enthusiasm, motivation and willingness to do whatever it takes to reach his goal is an inspiration to all who know him.

Training & Opportunity = Growth

Meet Teresa Graft, Group Supported Employment Client

In 1983, when a student graduated from high school and had a disability, they were referred to a "sheltered workshop". Community employment was rarely an option for individuals with developmental disabilities. Following her graduation from Shelton High School in 1983, Teresa was referred to Morningside. She became part of a DVR Program called Extended Sheltered Employment which focused on providing employment for individuals who were, at that time, not considered appropriate for community employment.

Over the years, Teresa has learned a variety of work tasks in the area of clerical skills. She currently works at our Group Supported Employment site in the Cherry Street Plaza complex within the Department of Social and Health Services. At the DSHS/MAA site, she performs a variety of office duties, including opening and sorting the incoming mail, prepping medical claims, data entry, mail delivery, quality control of work being prepped, and answering the telephone.

Teresa loves to work and takes pride in doing the job correctly, promptly and with a smile. She is highly dependable, motivated, detail oriented and focused. Teresa is also well liked by all of her co-workers and state employees throughout the Cherry St. Plaza building.

Recently Teresa applied for an Office Assistant 1, Supported Employment position with DSHS/HRSA which would be the perfect job fit for Teresa. It is located on the second floor of the Cherry St. Plaza building in the same area where she currently delivers the daily mail. Teresa received notice that she has been selected for an interview for this position. To help Teresa prepare, she has been practicing her interviewing skills with Morningside staff . It has been going very well as she answers the questions with confidence. When asked, "Do you have any questions for us?" Teresa replied, "When can I start?"

As Teresa put it herself, she has completed her training at Morningside and is ready for her own job where she can use the skills she has learned.

Terri Vasquez, Fosbre Academy of Hair Design, Olympia, WA

When Terri graduated from high school in 1979 in Montana, there were no programs to assist her in transitioning to post-high school. When Terri moved to Olympia in 2008 to be closer to her sister and brother-in-law, she was referred to Morningside’s Person-to-Person Program. This program is designed to assist individuals who have had little or no work history begin on a “pathway to employment”.

During the first phase of services, relationship building, Terri’s delightful personality and infectious laugh made it easy to visualize her future. The next phase, Discovery, was a bit more challenging for Terri. She found it difficult to explore new environments and try out new tasks.  Possible employment opportunities had to be presented slowly.  

As her comfort level increased so did her excitement about having her own job and paycheck.   As Terri explored a wide range of work tasks and environments, her work interests and gifts became apparent.  Terri’s ideal work environment is a smaller welcoming environment, with repetitive tasks, and with little change in staff. Her work interest included Beauty or Tanning Salons where she could wash and fold towels, stocking; or in an Office Setting where she is quite confident  shredding confidential documents, stuffing documents or mailings; or in a  Retail setting stocking, re-facing shelves.

Terri’s first exposure to work was a community based assessment at The Phoenix Inn Motel where she worked in the laundry room. Terri began to understand the meaning and expectations of work during this work opportunity. 

The next step in reaching Terri’s employment goal was to work with targeted employers to create a customized assessment within her interest areas.  A customized community based assessment was created at Fosbre Academy of Hair Design in down town Olympia had a need and was willing to give Terry a try.  Terri’s tasks were to collect the dirty towels from each station, wash and dry them, fold the towels and stock each station, empty the small trash cans at each station, and as needed restock the hair products for sale.   

Mike Schneider, Inferno's Pizza, Tumwater, WA

Morningside client Mike Schneider has worked as a dishwasher at Inferno's Pizza since October of 2007. Nick Costa, a Job Developer at Morningside, assisted Mike in procuring employment at the popular restaurant, located in Tumwater. "It's been a perfect job match....everything came together remarkably well with great natural supports." exclaimed Shawna Peek, Mike's first Job Coach at Inferno's.

Mike's primary duties are clearing bus tubs and ensuring all dishes are spotless. Maggie, a co-worker said, "Mike is such a hard-worker - never slacks off and will stay late to get all the dishes done." When he's not working, Mike enjoys watching sporting events and listening to the band Fall Out Boy. He also takes great pride in maintaining and detailing his prized and pristine truck.

His manager, Brad LaRue, remarked, "Everybody enjoys working with Mike....he's always in a good mood and loves to joke around." And Mike feels it's been a great fit for him at Inferno's: "I love to work there...and I really like to eat the BBQ chicken pizza."

Grays Harbor Story: David DeYoung
Working in the Community “I’m lovin’ it!”

Customers to the Hoquium McDonald’s are greeted with a huge smile when David DeYoung is on duty Tuesday and Thursday afternoons! While somewhat shy David greets customers with a quiet hello and a friendly attitude. David has been McDonald’s Lobby Attendant extraordinaire for nearly six years.

Working in the lobby is a great match for David because he takes such pride in making his customers feel welcome. Many regulars know David by name and share stories of their pets or grandchildren. While he may not remember their names he remembers their faces and knows which car each regular customer drives!

On the job, David receives support from a Morningside Job Coach. One of his work supports is a task list in pictures which he can check to ensure he has completed all of his tasks every day. Keeping the lobby clean and neat on busy days can be a challenge but David has been tested by even bigger situations – like the time 43 first and second graders came in all at once! After they left, David scanned the dining area to assess what needed to be done. He got right back to work removing all the debris from the tables then sweeping and mopping the entire restaurant before washing each table and chair so it was ready for the next customer.

While commuting to work on the bus, David has recently met a friend who rides the same bus home from her job. She helps keep a look out for the bus and they often share a soft drink and cookies on the trip home. This gives David a reason to look forward to quitting time.

His parents find the increase in sense of self-esteem and responsibility David gets from having a job even more important than the paycheck and the fact that David now interacts in his community in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling to him. Congratulations David!

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