After my daughter, Angie, “graduated” from her school program, I was concerned about her. I worried about her being happy at a sheltered workshop program. She has no use of her hands. How was she going to fit in? All she could do was watch everybody else doing piece work on the lines. When I’d visit the workshop, I’d feel sad for her. She would just be sitting with other people watching them work or nodding off if there wasn’t much action. As I gradually became more connected to the program, I learned that there was so much more involved than what I saw at first glance. Piece work was only one aspect of the program. Companies like Procter and Gamble sent their jobs to the Beckman Center, which helped support the program, but that was just the beginning of what Beckmann Center had to offer their clients. In addition, they have programs for individuals who can’t or don’t want to work, where they have fun or relaxing activities to occupy their days. Another aspect of the program is the opportunities for volunteers who have engineering or building skills who can design, build or modify tools so that people like Angie can contribute. For example, one of the volunteers built a special lift and dump device that Angie could activate with her elbow switch that had a box-shaped shovel that would be filled with packaged items by line-workers, so that Angie could actually dump the products into the big boxes. She felt important when she could contribute. There was also a job placement program for individuals who were interested in working in the community. This was the program that organized a job for Angie as a Walmart Greeter. For seven years she went with her aid to Walmart and worked for about an hour twice a week. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it was huge for her. She had someplace to go a couple of days a week where she could hit her big red button with her elbow to say “Welcome to Walmart” and smile at everybody who walked in through the door. She also made friends at Walmart with both regular shoppers and some of the staff. Friends from church and family members would also stop and say hi to her whenever they saw her working. Every once in a while, she came home with gifts, such as stuffed animals, scarves, gloves or pictures. Angie worked there for a very happy seven years, earning a paycheck, which she almost always spent in Walmart. Sadly, at that point, the store got a new manager who decided to cancel the program. Years later, in 2013, once Angie moved into St. Joseph Home, she stopped attending the workshop. At about the same time, St. Joseph Home created their own Day Program to actually save money and control of the quality of their program. Angie has happily been going there until just a few weeks ago. These days she is part of a new program for medically stable individuals who can go out into the community on a regular basis to act as ambassadors for the special needs’ community while enjoying simple little adventures. We are delighted for Angie to have this opportunity. If you are looking for a solution and don’t live in Cincinnati, you can use this program to guide and inspire services in your community. Hamilton County, Ohio has done an amazing job and we were blessed to our daughter as one of their clients.