Networking

Ellice used her network to create a professional dance company that embraces diversity and inclusion. Abilities Dance Boston is a space for innovative professional dancers and the development of innovative dance forms that incorporate differences in movement and in each dancers lived experiences.

Zachary lives in Hammond, Indiana and says he has been programming computers since he was eleven years old. For the last two and a half years, he has worked part-time for Alkon Consulting, a local web design studio. His boss met Zachary through his job developer, reviewed his work to see if he was ready to work in the web design field, and decided to hire him.

Through a thorough planning process, Brian's team explored the people in Brian's personal network. They realized that the owner of a local liquor store had gotten to know Brian well, since he regularly visits to redeem cans and bottles. Together with the store's owner, Brian's job developer created a position at the liquor store doing custodial and maintenance work. Brian is just about to celebrate his first year on the job, which is his first long-term success.

Judy's job developer spends a significant amount of time maintaining relationships with employers in his local community and has often relied on these relationships to create new opportunities for the individuals he supports. Taking into account Judy’s interest in working with people who are elderly, he got in touch with his contact at the Council on Aging and helped Judy secure a job preparing and distributing meals for the local Meals on Wheels program.

Eddie Alley has worked at Little Caesars, the pizza restaurant chain, since last summer. Several factors helped Eddie to find a position that was a good fit. First, he participated in a job tryout before he started to work. Also, he and his employer were flexible and willing to try new things. Finally, the employer had a long and positive connection with Eddie's job developer.