Friday, February 4, 2011

Meet Sarah....

Taking pride in her work:
Sarah’s job brings independence and fulfillment

Sarah Schelstraete is proud of her job, and rightfully so. You can hear it in her voice when she talks about her day-to-day work at Underwriters Laboratories, a product-safety testing company in South Bend, Ind.

Sarah, a 36-year-old woman with Down syndrome, landed her job at Underwriters when she was just a high school student. Now in her 17th year on the job, Sarah has successfully maintained her employment thanks to her outstanding work ethic, positive attitude and pure dedication.

“I love my job!” Sarah said. “It’s very important to me.”

Sarah works five days a week and is responsible for various tasks that keep the company operating smoothly, including helping with shipping, cleaning and storing materials.

“She is probably one of our most dependable employees. She has a perfect attendance record,” said Donna Martis, Sarah’s supervisor, in an interview with WSBT-TV in South Bend.

In addition to a steady income, Sarah receives health benefits and an IRA (Individual Retirement Arrangement) through her employer.

“The ways this job has benefited Sarah are innumerable,” said Myrna Schelstraete, Sarah’s mom. “One of the biggest advantages is that she’s accepted by everyone she works with. Nobody treats her differently or gives her special privileges. She’s just like everyone else.”

As the fourth of five children, with two brothers and two sisters, Sarah grew up feeling like every other kid. “Her brothers didn’t let her get by with any special treatment!” Myrna said. “She had to hold her own, and she’s still good at that.”

Myrna is proud of her daughter’s independence and maturity, particularly in how she handles her work duties. She describes Sarah as being very smart, regimented and organized – all valuable qualities that are important to most employers.

“Sarah can do all the things that anyone else can do,” Myrna said. “It may take her a little longer to learn how to do some things, but she never forgets.” Sarah rides the city bus to and from work each day and packs her own lunches, too.

For other parents of children with disabilities, Myrna recommends they help their kids grow up to be excellent employees by teaching them to be well-mannered and responsible. She also suggests that parents think outside the box when helping their children with disabilities find employment. Rather than limiting your search to common places like restaurants and grocery stores, consider places that you do business with every day, such as doctor’s offices, hospitals and libraries.

“It’s a shame that most people don’t realize how many abilities people with disabilities do have,” Myrna said. “Unfortunately, many people think individuals with disabilities are limited to jobs you most typically see them in, such as working for fast food chains, but there are so many other options if you just look for them.”

In addition to her work, Sarah enjoys all kinds of activities and hobbies, including bowling, playing basketball, being outdoors and everything to do with music, including karaoke. She loves watching movies and spending time with friends, too.

“Sarah is a very well-rounded person with many skills and abilities,” Myrna said. “People with disabilities, like Sarah, just need a chance to show what they can do.”

Sarah’s story is an excellent reminder that people with disabilities, with the right support, can be valuable and productive employees. But this story isn’t just about inclusion; it’s also about empowerment. Not only is Sarah a respected employee, she’s earning a paycheck. She’s deciding what goods and services to buy, or not buy, and that is real power as a consumer.

(Reprinted with permission from the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities)

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