Our mission is to empower children and adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their potential based on personal choices, abilities and interests...
For more information about our career services please contact:
Kim Spahn
Asst. Executive Director
phone: 914.949.9300,
ext. 4612
fax: 914.428.0322
kspahn
@westchesterarc.org
Westchester Arc
The Gleeson-Israel Gateway Center
265 Saw Mill River Road
Hawthorne, NY 10532
914.949.9300
info@westchesterarc.org
24-hour
Crisis Intervention:
914.949.8200
Información
en Español
Sign Up for News & Updates
Eric B:
The Power of “Hello”
It’s a few minutes before noon, and Eric B. takes a break from delivering mail at the Armonk law firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner. It’s time for lunch. After heating up a frozen pizza, he sits down beside Andres, a co-worker, and begins talking about eBay. Sounds like a typical day at the office, but for Eric, who has a developmental disability, it represents a professional and personal triumph.
Eric joined the law firm two years ago through Westchester Arc’s S.T.A.R. (Students in Transition Accessing Resources) program, which partners with local high schools to prepare students for the working world. Staff worked with Eric, his family and school faculty to identify his interests and abilities, then helped him develop a career plan. One-on-one sessions with a S.T.A.R. career counselor covered employer expectations and interview techniques, while an onsite job coach helped Eric adapt his skills to the employer’s needs.
“Westchester Arc went to great efforts to understand Eric and find a job that would complement his abilities and desires,” comments his mom, Susan.
Working at Boies, Schiller & Flexner proved to be a natural fit. After a few days, Eric was collecting, sorting and delivering letters and packages with little supervision. He was energetic and enthusiastic about the job. “I really like it here,” he confides. But there remained a part of work that still made him uncomfortable--relating to others.
“One of the biggest challenges faced by people with developmental disabilities who work in the community isn’t performing the job, it’s feeling comfortable enough to socialize,” explains Kim Spahn, Westchester Arc assistant executive director.
Boies, Schiller & Flexner understood this and devised a simple but powerful plan. Every day, each staff person made a concerted effort to greet Eric. Even a “hello” would make a world of difference.
“It's like Eric is a different person now,” comments Michael Flanagan, the firm’s managing clerk. “In addition to doing an excellent job, he’s more outgoing and initiates appropriate business conversations. I’m really amazed by his progress.”
“Any job is a partnership,” notes Rochelle Saks, S.T.A.R. director. “Boies, Schiller & Flexner is a great example of how a little bit of thought can change a person’s life and solidify a professional relationship.”