Written from an interview with Nicole Marchesseau, Program Manager at Jobs.Opportunities.Enterprise (J.O.E.)

Published on August 20, 2021. 3 Minute Read.

Just because someone has a developmental disability, doesn’t mean they should be assembling widgets in a warehouse.

Full Citizenship means that people have the right to interact and to participate fully in community.

We like to interact with others. We like to get to know others. And when we interact with our community, we build bridges. We’re all social beings. Adults with developmental disabilities aren’t any different.

The Sheltered Workshop system started in the 1970s. Basic work was performed, often by folks with developmental disabilities, in a controlled environment at substandard wages.

Work took place apart from the rest of the community. You go to the back. You do your work. You leave. There was community within the Sheltered Workshop space, but it wasn’t integrated into the broader community. It wasn’t an inclusive model.

The “sheltered” part and wage concerns were part of why sheltered workshops were phased out beginning in 2015. The problem is that as far as work for folks with developmental disabilities goes, there wasn’t really much to replace sheltered workshops beyond high-cost day programs. 

For me, it was amazing to see people’s confidence build, along with people’s relationships within the community. When someone serves you a cup of coffee, it’s a shared experience that you have with someone else. Plus it’s fun having a job that you enjoy.

The coffee nooks were front-facing and tangible. Folks at J.O.E. still talk about their experiences as baristas volunteering at different locations in town. They talk about it like it’s yesterday. It’s part of people’s identity. It’s very transformative work.

People in J.O.E. are trained to work. They have the skills. They’re ready to work. They’re going to be there, on time. And they’re following the rules.

If your business has a bit of extra resources, consider offering a 3-5 hour a week shift for an adult with a developmental disability. People at J.O.E. are ready to work.

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