NDEAM Spotlight: Shannon

Happy National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! This NDEAM Spotlight shines on Shannon! 🌟

Shannon is employed at Martin’s and is consistently praised for her work as a team member, but also as an emerging leader. Shannon occasionally needs time for a break, to reset her mind, or to calm her thoughts so she can stay on task. Asking these things of her supervisor were daunting to Shannon, so she worked with her job coach, Wendy, to find a solution.

Shannon created different color cards that pair with a different message for each. If she needed a moment, she could display a colored card and if she was doing well but needed to be left alone she could display a different card. There are messages that corresponded to each card and Shannon felt this process was a great way to advocate for her time, space, and interaction levels without having to directly approach her supervisor about it. Shannon’s supervisor liked this solution so much that they implemented it for the rest of their team! Two months later, and Shannon is now in a leadership position at Martin’s along with being awarded Employee of the Month! Maggy, a Senior Facilitator at Martin’s, commented on Shannon’s recognition and promotion, stating “since she has received her promotion she has gone above and beyond at her job and for the customers.” Congratulations to Shannon on developing her advocacy skills in her role and on her promotion!!