Hard at Work with Imagine PossibilitiesWe are beyond excited to announce that longtime Imagine Possibilities participant Amanda Druse found a job through our Employment Program! Amanda’s journey began when she graduated high school in 2007. She tried a few jobs and eventually decided to join a day program instead. Like many job seekers, Amanda had already been through the process of Discovery and was hesitant to try again. After some careful consideration, she decided to give it another shot with Imagine Possibilities. With the help of her support team, they came together to discuss Amanda’s strengths, gifts and capacities and her employment consultant found three emerging themes in Amanda’s interests – working with animals, clothing, and music. Amanda loves spending time with animals, shopping for eclectic clothing and putting together creative new outfits, and sharing playlists and dancing to Michael Jackson songs with her friends. Amanda spent three months learning about different kinds of businesses that intersected with her interests and unique skill set. Through volunteer work, company tours, and many, many trips through the community, Amanda and her Employment Consult narrowed down their search to a remarkable shop in Beaverton called The Vault Vintage Clothing Boutique. Those who are from the area know the shop well - it’s hard not to stop in traffic to appreciate their beautiful dresses on display. The owners, a loving mother and daughter duo named Meghan Anderson-French and Sue Anderson, run the shop with the help of their three adorable Great Pyrenees pups, Barely, Slimmy and Frost. Upon walking in, you’re immediately greeted by big doggy grins and the sound of fun, upbeat music playing from the cash register. Meghan welcomes everyone through her door like they are family, while Sue takes the time to find you that perfect dress for any occasion. The shop had all the elements that fit Amanda’s interests – animals, clothing, and music. And Meghan and Sue were looking for some part-time shop assistance. This spring, Amanda began an internship to make sure it was the right fit for her and the owners. During this time Amanda learned new skills like foaming hangers and tagging clothing and jewelry for sale, with assistance from her Employment Consultant and the natural supports provided by Meghan and Sue. Once Amanda’s Discovery was over, Meghan and Sue offered Amanda a permanent part-time position. “Every week we look forward to seeing Amanda. Even the dogs get excited when they know she’s coming in to work,” says Meghan. “She’s a quick learner and whips through tasks in no time!” added Sue. When we asked Amanda how she felt about the job, she said, “I really like it! Meghan, Sue and the dogs are nice. I get to listen to music and I’m learning new job skills.” Stop in and visit Amanda, Meghan, Sue and the fun loving dogs at The Vault Vintage Clothing Boutique on Farmington and Watson in downtown Beaverton. Meet Our Absolutely Amazing Administrative Assistant!Hello! I’m Kai. I grew up in California, just outside of San Francisco. I’ve been in Oregon for 2 years, and it’s been wonderful. I’m a really big fan of Star Wars, Star Trek, and all that cliché nerdy stuff. I’m also a total Broadway geek; seeing Hamilton when it was here a while back was the best night of my life. When I’m not here at IP, I’m either playing video games or ukulele. I’m kind of obsessed with sharks- my favorite movie of all time is Jaws, and I have enough shark facts to write a book..... provided it is a very short book. I’ve been at IP for just over 3 months now, and I absolutely love it. The energy here is awesome, and getting to know the participants has been incredible. I do a whole bunch of things, from filing to quality assurance checks. A big part of it is managing participants’ spending money, so I’m sure you will be hearing from me eventually if you haven’t already. I look forward to meeting you! -Kai Charity Golf Tournament This JulyOur annual Imagine Possibilities charity golf tournament is coming up fast! Join us on July 20th, 2018, at the Ghost Creek course at Pumpkin Ridge for a day of golf, games, and summer fun, all while helping Imagine Possibilities in our continuing mission to provide quality care and opportunities for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Get Involved With IP!We are always looking for ways to get more involved in our communities, and ways for our communities to get more involved with us. If you're looking to donate things like books and art supplies, looking for a rewarding and fun volunteer opportunity, or looking to start your career in caregiving, give us a call! We can be reached at 503-649-6110, Mon-Fri from 9am to 5:30pm. |