Turning Dreams into Reality

The month of October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month commemorating the many contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. Job Coach, Vicki, works with KETCH’s persons served to support them in their jobs out in the community. The support she provides varies depending on their individual needs. It ranges from helping them navigate online employee accounts for work schedules, to health insurance and periodic training.

Jason is a person served who prides himself on being employed and independent. Jason was born in a US Air Force Base hospital in Okinawa, Japan. The doctor used forceps during his delivery, which caused mild brain damage. Jason grew up in Fort Hood, Texas, and Russell, Kansas. He graduated from Russell High School in 1993. That’s where he and his brother competed in high school rodeo.

He first came to KETCH when he was 22. He lived and worked at KETCH. He eventually moved to Topeka to be close to his family when they moved there. Over the years, Jason has worked in a wide range of jobs out in the community. He found his way back to KETCH in 2020. He lives in a KETCH apartment. He has been working at a Dillon’s grocery store in Wichita for almost a year. He got the job on his own.

Jason likes to work. Now 50 years old, the life he has carved out for himself is based on work, “I work because I want my skills, my dreams to come true.” He knows a job and the money he earns doing it, are the means to making his dreams a reality.

Jason is a hard worker, but first and foremost, he is a cowboy, and his dreams for three things are related. He dreams of having a living quarter horse trailer (a horse trailer with room for both horses and living space for people.) Secondly, he needs a big truck to pull it, plus a ranch. He already has a horse.

Jason believes that working opens his life to new possibilities, which gives him the opportunity to dream. He thinks the Americans with Disabilities Act provides people with disabilities a chance to work out in the community so they can believe in themselves and dream about the fruits of their labor. He wants employers to have faith in people and give them a chance.

The KETCH work program helps people develop skills so they can qualify for jobs inthe community. Jason prefers working in the community because of the variety and says he would get bored doing the same thing all day. At Dillon’s he pushes carts and opens the store, which involves completing some cleaning tasks, and sacks groceries and stocks shelves when needed. He also does yardwork for additional income on his days off from Dillon’s.

He says KETCH has helped him focus on work, giving him freedom and independence. After doing yard work for a neighbor over the years, that neighbor arranged for Jason to inherit his truck when he passed away. Jason drives and now enjoys the independence of having his own vehicle.

Henry David Thoreau famously wrote, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” Jason now has a truck and a horse to take him toward his dreams. As for the rest, he’s working on it.