We want to hear about your employment or entrepreneurial success story! NDSS is featuring stories from across the country from the perspective of employees and entrepreneurs with Down syndrome. Please complete the form below and submit a picture of a self-advocate in action!
This is a story about our chief coffee roaster, Erin Baldwin. In 2008 Erin was living in a residential facility in the Midwest. She had loved living there, but in 2008 something happened that made her miserable and she pleaded with us to bring her home. So on March 12, 2010 we brought Erin to Westminster, MD. We were told by the state of Maryland that since we were new to the state and so was Erin that it could be ten years before they could help her find a job.
So one thing led to another and we started roasting coffee in our kitchen and then kitchen and dining room as well as having about a ton of green coffee beans in the lower level of our home. Early on we realized that Erin has an eye for roasting coffee. She has keen powers of observation and after watching me roast, she could do it without supervision.
We have grown and now are on Main Street in Westminster. Erin serves as our chief roaster and is responsible for roasting between 350 and 500 pounds of coffee a week. She still has a keen eye for roasts and spots mistakes and successes before anyone else does. She was working six days a week, but we have cut her back to five. She is now 44 and we found she was starting to flag without a Saturday off.
Erin loves her job. She calls our roastery, “My coffee shop!” and she takes great pride in her work. She exemplifies the moniker #DSWORKS®.
Our website is www.furnacehillscoffee.com
We are committed to the Down syndrome community and partner with the NDSS and roast the Buddy Walk® Coffee.
Grace Key is the co-founder, brand designer and spokesperson for Candidly Kind. She’s a 20 year old high school senior who has used writing, drawing and painting throughout her life to express her feelings. Grace instinctively creates happy images, notes, letters and messages of inspiration for friends and family and now she wants to share them with the world.
Spreading a message of light and love, her first design is a theme Grace herself has truly embodied since birth. No matter the situation Grace always shines brightly. She believes if everyone shines their light no one will ever have to live in darkness.
Grace aims to promote kindness and a belief in oneself no matter what the obstacles. She hopes her creations will remind you to live with authenticity, act with love and treat everyone you meet with an open heart.
Visit https://www.candidlykind.com today to shop Grace’s designs!
My name is Danny Leonard and I am 18 years old. I just graduated from Milford High School. I have been going outside from my school to explore and experience different work sites for job training. I applied and interviewed for the Guest Relations Assistant position at the Detroit Zoo. The interview experience was challenging and a fun experience and I got the job! I am looking forward to bringing a lot of enthusiasm to my first job. I have visited the Detroit Zoo since I was a baby and it has always been a delightful pleasure for me
Voya’s support of the special needs community is part of our diversity and inclusion strategy and who the company is — and employees view these efforts with pride. We believe a diverse workforce in which all viewpoints are heard and respected, ultimately makes a more effective organization, allowing us to better serve our customers. Voya has long partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society from a CR and Foundation perspective, and we were thrilled to be able to expand our relationship by offering an opportunity to Jamie through the organization.
Jamie, who started his role at Voya on March 19, 2018, has come to Voya with a “can do” attitude. He is hard-working and adds positivity to the different areas where he contributes. After Jamie had the opportunity to shadow our “Money In/Out” team that oversees much of our mail processing, we discovered how well these roles and responsibilities matched Jamie’s past experience, and we truly had a need for help in the department. Jamie acclimated to both the new assignment and the team effortlessly and his contributions helped to accomplish the team’s daily deliverables. It was a win/win for everyone!
Jamie is partnered with a job coach through New England Business Associates (NEBA). NEBA has provided Voya with educational tools to leverage so we can support Jamie to be both independent and successful in his role
Brandon has a list of goals. He changes them all the time, but he says independence is a step process. Getting a job was at the top this year, but with his travel schedule we’ve discouraged it. He came to me one day and said, “Dad, it’s time I became a man and get a job like you!” I said, “need some help bud?” “No, I need to do this on my own. I may need help updating my resume,” and off he went. Brandon has always had a love for fashion, shopping and networking. He also loves wearing a uniform or a symbol to feel like he’s part of a team. His college career assessments always point to sales/marketing and the arts. Brandon put all these together and scoped out an ideal first job. Independently, he dressed up, with confidence, walked into Billabong, asked for the manager, filled out an application and was given a short meeting. She asked him to come back the following week for an official interview with the regional manager.
The manager hadn’t had the opportunity to engage in conversation with a differing ability candidate, so he asked Brandon to bring in my wife at the end of the interview. His desire was to hire Brandon, but unsure of how he could get around quota’s and willing to learn about accommodations. He was certain Brandon would fit in with the team and that he would love the fun environment. Immediately following the interview, I got a text and picture of the two managers and Brandon standing in front of the store shaking hands. HE WAS OFFICIALLY HIRED and my the picture captured, a milestone in all our lives. They were excited and welcomed him to their team! As he was leaving, the manager had one more question , “with or without a job coach?” Brandon smiled and said, “without a job coach please. I’ve got this!”. My wife said, “there’s always plan B!”
As parents, we discovered that maybe we had done something right allowing Brandon certain freedoms to grow and enjoy every experience through the years. He had gained confidence simply by being placed in situations where he had to advocate on his own behalf. What he has communicated to us both over time, is he wants to get a job so he can work toward his independence. Which means living on his own and eventually finding someone to share his life with. We are now on high alert that when he walks through the door one day and says, “I called the moving company and I found a place to live in Los Angeles or New York City”, the plan is already in motion. His road to independence is in full flight
Hi! My name is Kayla Campos, and I am the CEO of K Bee Candles. Please check my website – kbeecandles.com.
My wonderful life began on January 1991. I have Down Syndrome, and the first three years of my life were very difficult. I spent lots of time in the hospital due to Bronchitis and ear infections. I enjoyed school, even though I suffered bullying because of my different abilities. I’m proud of who I’m and enjoy when I surprise people when they hear me speak in Spanish and English.
My parents and I are very thankful to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida for the Entrepreneur Academy, where I learned valuable guidance on how to start my own business. Adam, Janet, and all the leaders of the Academy have encouraged each of the CEO‘s and our sidekicks (our parents) on how to keep our business growing. I make the candles in my home kitchen. My candles are made in small batches using 100% organic beeswax pellets. I enjoy making the candles because they are hypo-allergenic, great for people with Asthma and allergies. Beeswax candles are the perfect choice for those of us who want a clean burning candle in our home. I’m looking forward to make my business grow!
I have worked more than 15 years at the Westchester Institute for Human Development, a University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), affiliated with New York Medical College. As the Self-Advocacy Coordinator, I promote self-determination and person-centered practices; and also coordinate a self-advocacy group that has educational meetings. I also teach medical students, graduate students and physicians; and develop training curriculum on health and transition. I am a liaison to local, state and national organizations. One of the biggest successes of my job was to start a self-advocacy group at our Institute about five years ago. I am the staff member who coordinates all of the activities for “Hear our Voices”, a self-advocacy group of young adults and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities living in the area of Westchester County, New York. This group believes in advocating for ourselves and for each other; and for speaking up on issues that affect us. We provide a forum to learn about these issues and to develop advocacy and leadership skills. Our members are aware and informed on the supports and services in our community and able to help others to advocate for themselves. Our series of monthly educational and social meetings are held here at the Westchester Institute for Human Development and when we get together, we talk about important topics of interest to us with invited discussion leaders who are faculty or staff at WIHD or are experienced professionals from our community. Some of our members help us to train graduate students and medical students by sharing our own personal stories and experiences
Recently, Christina was made aware that State Representative Lauren Arthur, District 18, State of Missouri, was actively recruiting someone with Down syndrome to serve as an intern with her office. Upon contacting her Legislative Assistant, Pedro P Guerrero, an interview was set up, and Christina indicated her desire to volunteer with Rep. Arthur’s office. Christina started her Intern position on January 17, 2018. One of her duties is to select 1-2 members of Missouri’s Hall of Fame of famous Missourians each week, writing a short informative article for the representative’s weekly newsletter to her constituents. Recently, she was introduced on the floor of the Missouri Senate. Her presence and contributions as an Intern serve not only to advance her personal growth and advancement but also serve to educate everyone with whom she comes in contact regarding the potential abilities and talents individuals with Down syndrome possess. Her abilities to communicate, her personality, her work ethic, and her unexpected talents serve to advance the future opportunities members of the Down syndrome community can hope to have. Rep. Arthur’s involvement in actively providing such an opportunity cannot be overstated. The Goedde family deeply thanks, Representative Lauren Arthur
I work Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 1 PM as a Mail Delivery Specialist. When I first started, I worked with the marketing team, then I assisted the lending department and now I work in the mailroom! I go to the post office and handle the mail in the office. I am very fortunate to have a great working life and wonderful coworkers! My dad gave my resume to the boss and that is how I got the job. Other self-advocates will be happy to have a job in the community. I am happy to be at Navigant! I am very proud of my work and my job!
Shane works full time at Anderson’s Pharmacy and Accents in Lawton, Oklahoma. What started out as a part-time job that would allow him some time away from Mom has turned into a full-time job that he goes to while his mother is at work. Some of his duties include wiping shelves, taking out the trash, shredding papers, helping put up medicine bottles, greeting customers, and helping run errands and make deliveries. He wakes up every day and is so excited to go to work and truly loves being a part of his work family! I am so proud of how hard he works and how accepted he is by our community!
Hello my name is Joey Agostino. I live in Norwalk, CT. I am 22 years old. I graduated from the RISE program at Sacred Heart University.
I loved going to college and making new friends. I worked at a restaurant called, Linda’s on campus. It was fun and I got to work with great people.
I now work at Outback Steakhouse, a job I got all by myself. Last Valentine’s night, I went out to celebrate Valentines Day. The owner of the restaurant, Corey, came over to our table and said that “we made his night” and he wanted to buy our dinner. We said thank you and told him we wanted to work there and he said ok. We went to fill out paperwork and started working 2 weeks later. I work there 2 nights a week. I love working at Outback. Everyone is so nice. I bus tables, do kitchen prep, dining room prep and hostess station. I have another job at Country Convenience in Norwalk. It is a small convenience store in town. I restock, prep pizza boxes, receive deliveries, help customers and work the cash register. The owner Billy is a great guy and I really like working there too.
I love working out at the gym with my pals. I love going to my brother’s football games to cheer him on. I love hanging out with my friends, going to the movies or doing other fun stuff but …what I REALLY LOVE is music!!!!
When anyone asked me what I want to do growing up, I would tell them
“I am going to be a DJ”.
I always have my earphones and music with me wherever I go. I love to create playlists and try to remix songs.
I LOVE music and I LOVE being a DJ.
After I won the NDSS Ethan Saylor Scholarship I started DJ lessons with Mark Minnock. Mark became not only my teacher but my partner and most of all my best friend.
My first professional gig was The Tim Tebow Night To Shine Prom in New Canaan,CT –It was AWESOME! There were over 350 people at the prom. I was able to use all the things I had learned and I was a Big Hit! After that, I did Graduation Parties and other small events in CT.
But the BIGGEST gig I have gotten was the LuLaRoe Gala in Anaheim CA.
Sara Weir from NDSS called and told us that LuLaRoe wanted to fly me out to California to DJ the LuLaRoe Gala. I was very excited – I always dreamed of going to California to be a DJ.
Lindsay Stidham, DeAnne & Mark, Jordan, Jen and the entire LuLaRoe Family and of course NDSS helped make that dream come true!!
It was amazing! I was the DJ for 1,800 people. I felt just like a Rock Star!!! People were stopping me to take selfies and chanting my name “DJ Joe”– “DJ Joe”. It was magical. I knew I would be a great DJ because, music makes me feel so happy, it makes everyone feel happy and I love making people happy!!
People said I couldn’t do it – that being a DJ was just a dream. Well, dreams come true —my dream came true and I am so happy. I can’t wait for my next gig. I have a few small ones but my next big one is The Tim Tebow Night To Shine Prom-again! I did such a great job at the first one they asked me back and told me they wanted no body else– only me –DJ Joe
My mom always says do what you love. I love working for Outback & Country Convenience but what I truly love is being a DJ. My goal is to continue to grow my DJ business, making people happy with music. Don’t ever let people tell you that you can’t do it…I know you can …I know you can do what you love if you work hard, follow your dreams and never give up.
DJ Joe – Joey Agostino
My name is Tucker Collins and I am a photographer. I love taking pictures: selfies, surprise portraits, crazy views, I love it all. When I was about 10, I picked up my Mom’s camera and started to shoot. I wanted my family to see what I saw. My Mom saw the pictures and knew we had found a way to show my ABILITY to the world. It’s my way of showing everyone how I view the world because people don’t always understand what I am saying
We started Tucker Collins Photography about 3 years ago. I have a website and do some local events such as school holiday fairs and the MDSC Congress to sell notecards and large format canvases.
There is an old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”. I say that if a picture is worth a thousand words, let me share my novel with you! I see something in my view, and go for it. We don’t typically edit the photos before we print.
I dream of a future in visual arts with both still and moving pictures, and hope to attend the New York Film Academy after high school. My brother is a film maker and I want to help him tell stories. I want to live in New York City.