Drusilla Sniffin
by Brendan and Shirley Sniffin
In August of 1996 after becoming frustrated with the lack of job prospects and the performance of the agency that was supplying a job trainer for Dru we asked our DMR case manager and WeCAHR to help us get control of Dru's funding.
We applied for and received a grant through DMR. With this money we were able to hire our own job trainer who works directly with us to see that Dru's employment needs are met. It has been a learning experience - some of which was positive - some negative. It does require more work on our part - record keeping, managing resources and time involved. An accountant helps us to figure the payroll and taxes. On the plus side we get weekly progress reports and Dru gets undivided attention . As an example, recently we were able to head off a situation that was fast getting out of control. Management was not allowing her to progress in her job resulting in a loss of self-esteem. Through the job training monitoring of the work place and support of Dru we were able to acquire a transfer to a new job with the Company. The manager at the new site is more receptive to Dru and her needs. In the short time Dru has been there we have noticed she once again feels like a member of the team and is eager to go to work and meet the new challenges of the job, with a smile.
Not only have we realized positive results, we feel it has helped to educate employers in dealing with employees with disabilities.
We would recommend anyone who is willing to apply themselves to follow this route, for the positives have far outnumbered the negatives .