I find jobs for people with developmental disabilities. After employment is secured for an individual, I then train them on how to do the job in ways that are easiest for them. I also take them to volunteer sites where they volunteer for various non-profits and sometimes to functions like baseball or football games.

EDUCATION | I graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts in Film & Digital Media with a production emphasis.

HOW TO GET STARTED | Studying psychology or social work would be a definite advantage.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | Patience, sense of humor, caring, friendly, and social

how I got started | Though I majored in film, it ended up being more of a hobby than a career path and I found myself after college, working at a hot dog stand in Santa Cruz. Everyday a crew of people with disabilities, who cleaned up the streets, always helped me set up in the morning. One of the workers told me about the company he worked for and helped me get an interview with them. They told me that they don't usually hire people without a specialized background but they liked me and thought I would work well with the clients.

why this job?| I love working with, and helping, people. I'm a people person.

why I love this job!| The clients always brighten my day. I love helping the clients realize their full potential and I love that I don't have to sit in a stuffy office all day long.

my typical day| I usually visit two to three job sites a day where I check in with the client and see how they are doing, how the day has been, and basically, if everything is ok. I also check in with management to see how things are looking from their perspective. If there's a problem, I address it by talking with both management and the client and then problem-solve to figure a long lasting solution. Often, I help out with other parts of the program and I take them to volunteer sites to volunteer, which are mainly non profits like SF Bike Coalition, Save the Redwoods, and Project Open Hand. When it's football or baseball season, I also take them to all kinds of games which they love.

what they are | This can be a very frustrating job at times. When a client doesn't understand how to do something or they're just stubborn, it can start to grate on you. The key is to realize that these people do, in fact, have disabilities and they won't understand or get things from your point of view. I have to think outside the box to figure out how to navigate the obstacles I come across.

all about growth | In larger companies there is definitely a ladder to climb, though the higher you climb, the less direct contact you will have with the clients.

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