News and notes from Imagine! and the Imagine! Foundation.
Lending a Helping Hand
Mar-08-2022
Services
One way that Imagine! fulfills their mission is by assisting adults with developmental disabilities with finding meaningful job opportunities through Imagine! Employment Services. Our Employment Specialists work with clients interested in pursuing a career and help them identify what they enjoy doing and what their purpose is.
Not too long ago, Emma started working at Alpine Elementary in Longmont as a Teacher’s Aide for a Kindergarten class. Emma accepts services from Imagine! and worked closely with Imagine! Employment Specialist Caitlyn Phillips to find her “calling” and a job that she cares about. Emma has always gravitated to hanging out with and helping kids, including her younger cousins. “Arts and crafts,” said Emma when asked what she likes to do with her cousins. This created a starting point for Emma and Caitlyn in their job search, and soon after, Emma volunteered some of her time at the local YMCA, working with kids in their childcare program.
This experience taught Emma that she was on the right path and that she enjoys very much working with children, which quickly led to her employment at Alpine Elementary. “During the interview, Emma seemed genuinely excited at the possibility to be in our program helping and working with our kiddos,” said Head Teacher Becky Gromala. “The kiddos really love working on worksheets and having Emma help them, she is really patient with them.”
Emma also takes attendance, hands out snacks, and plays games with the kindergarteners. “Watching her build relationships with the kiddos, I know there will be a lot of meaningful moments and stories in her future,” said Gromala. The beauty of Imagine! Employment Services is that Emma and the school now have Caitlyn Phillips’ support for as long as needed, helping Emma settle into her role and learn new tasks as they come up.
“Happy,” said Emma when asked how her new job makes her feel, accompanied by a big smile. We are so proud of Emma for landing this new job and are so glad that it is going well. Nice work, Emma!
Pictured below - Becky (left) and Emma
