Customer Story: Bev

Bev, began working at the Willamette Humane Society in December 2018. Before getting this job, Bev enjoyed volunteering at the Marion County Dog Shelter and at the Stayton Library.

When she decided to get a job in the community, her PA made a referral to provider agency, Shangri-La. Bev began the Discovery process, a service that helps individuals find out what kind of work they want to do, what they are good at, and sometimes most importantly—what kind of jobs they don’t want to do.

After completing Discovery, Bev’s PA made another referral to the Santiam Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS). With her PA Rosemary Eckstein’s help, Bev met with her OVRS counselor and job developer to come up with a career goal based on the things identified in the Discovery process. She also learned about all the supports that are available for people with disabilities as they begin their employment journey.

It was important to Bev to work part-time. She loves animals and wanted to work with or around them if possible. She also knew she would need some on-the-job support to learn her job tasks, prioritize tasks, and communicate with her supervisors in order to be successful. Bev’s job developer was able to carve out the perfect position for her at Willamette Humane Society. “Carving” a position means taking parts of an existing job and making it into a new one. Bev started working two hours a day, three days a week. Her job coach was there to help her learn her responsibilities.

Bev’s job coach still checks in on her occasionally and is available for support if she needs it, but Bev feels confident doing a variety of tasks at work now. She does the laundry, cuts surgical drapes for the spay/neuter clinic, removes syringe packaging, sweeps and mops floors, cleans the kennels and makes e-collars.

Bev says her PSW’s also are an important part in her success at work. They support her to get ready for work, and provide transportation so she gets there safely and on time.

Having a job and getting a paycheck is important to Bev, but when asked what her favorite part of her job is, she said, “Just being around the animals. I love being around the animals.”