How Bayley's Enjoying the Holiday Season While Chasing Her Career Goals

PCSEPP, RI BHDDH, Employment, Empowerment, COVID-19, Customized, Rhode Island, Disabilities

Looking back at the year behind us, it seems a little hard to believe that we're already here. The country celebrates Thanksgiving tomorrow, and we're all preparing for the last stretch of the holiday season come December. There's been so much activity in 2020--so much growth, change, and proof of our ability to overcome daily challenges to pursue our goals--and Bayley, a participant in the Person Centered Supported Employment Performance Program (PCSEPP), has been working hard to continue her forward momentum towards a customized work experience.

Funded by the RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH), PCSEPP is a program that doesn't just find a job, but helps individuals and employers create truly customized work experiences to fill business needs while letting individuals' skills and personalities shine. Perspectives, the J. Arthur Trudeau Memorial Center, and AccessPoint RI, in partnership with Skills for Rhode Island's Future, Able Opportunities, and the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMASS Boston, are working together to bring a wealth of talented professionals, resources, and opportunities to participants looking to kick start their career and discover their passions.

For Bayley, as she's gone through the introductory phase of the program and started her work with Perspectives' employment professionals, her goal--to work with animals--has always been her focus. She loves animals, and she hopes to bring her love for them to any future job she takes up; she's also determined to give back to her community with a position at an animal shelter or similar place. Cats are her favorite, and as she works with Casey, they've been discussing how to best approach the working world with these interests in mind while also staying mindful of new developments with the pandemic.

"We're focusing on discovery right now," says Bayley, "and we'll be looking for places to apply when the pandemic is over. Right now, I'm staying safe, wearing masks and washing my hands when I go places."

That's also why Bayley makes sure to have a plan in place for safe encounters with friends and family. From Halloween parties on Zoom to making sure to wear a mask while out running errands and preparing for her Turkey Day celebrations, Bayley is taking her and others' safety seriously while also making the most of her holiday experiences. She's also continuing her ASL lessons and generally enjoying her days at home with plenty of drawing, baking, and Christmas movies as she gets ready to decorate after Thanksgiving.

In the discovery process, Casey and Bayley meet via Zoom or in person at Bayley's apartment or open areas, like parks. Over a nice walk or a brief meeting inside--especially as the weather gets colder--the two talk about Bayley's daily life, interests, skills, and goals. Through this process, rather than simply having a profile of participants to work off of, Job Developers like Casey and other employment professionals can instead build meaningful relationships with participants and get a better picture of their personality, communication and learning styles, and more, which all help to find a working environment where Bayley can shine.

Casey notes that "Bayley is always very engaged and seems to enjoy the discovery process; she's very welcoming, and it has been such a pleasure to get to know her."

"I'm really happy to be working with Casey," Bayley says. "She's really nice and an overall great lady!"

On their work together, Casey notes that "Bayley is always very engaged and seems to enjoy the discovery process; she's very welcoming, and it has been such a pleasure to get to know her." She's also got an eye to the future, saying, "I look forward to progressing in the discovery process and honing her skills when we are able to access more of her community."

As we get closer to 2021, and as we all continue to do great work to get through the pandemic, we know Bayley will keep at her goals while staying safe! With PCSEPP, she's got the tools and the time to shape her career path any way she likes, and all the while, she's making sure to continue making the most of the holiday season with her loved ones. We're wishing Bayley all the best as she forges on towards the new year!

If you or someone you know qualifies for this program, you can learn more by contacting the Perspectives Employment Services team; e-mail them at employmentservices@perspectivescorporation.com or call (401) 294-3990.

How Bayley's Enjoying the Holiday Season While Chasing Her Career Goals

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