What Having a Job Means to Me
By: Renee Manfredi, Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger, Special Olympics Hawaii
“Experiences from sports, combined with leadership training and opportunity, give our athletes the skills and attitudes to become great leaders, competitors, and teammates in the workplace and communities.”
“Where do you work?” — This had become a question I had secretly come to dread being asked.
As an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), getting a job seemed to be something I was always asked about, but finding a job that would support me the way I needed seemed like a far off dream. I once read that “people with intellectual disabilities (ID) report that ‘lack of skills’ created difficulties for them, which further reduced their confidence and motivation.” This was certainly true for me and after my experience, I was not very keen on having a job again. Each time work was brought up, I got a knot in my stomach. And it wasn’t just about ‘getting a job’ but about being wanted and included at my job. I had many questions that I didn’t quite know how to share: Would I be respected? Would I get the support I needed? Would I be liked or be given the cold shoulder? Having a job where you are not supported or included can leave a lasting impression. So, for the most part, I put employment out of my mind.
A turning point for me was when I joined Special Olympics Hawai’i (SOHI). The instant I stepped through those doors, I was welcomed and embraced, supported and included. I became a part of a team, a team that wanted me and this changed my life. Then I joined the Global Messenger program and I found I had a voice. I learned to put my feelings into words. I also became a Health Messenger and was helping my community. My experiences as an athlete and my training as a Global Messenger and a Health Messenger helped me become a leader. I considered my roles in Special Olympics as my job. But after being chosen as a Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger (SSIGM), I felt I was ready to give real employment another try. I now had the faith to say: Ok, LORD, I’m ready. I made a list of where I thought I would feel comfortable and also where I could make the most impact.
I was already working as a leader for our weekly SOHI Holoholo Walking Club, but I thought I was ready for more. I mentioned my idea about employment to Nip, my SOHI mentor. That led to an internship with SOHI, which, in turn, led to my new role. A staff member for SOHI! At the beginning of 2020, the opportunity to be hired as the Athlete Leadership and Healthy Communities Assistant became a reality. I could hardly believe it. I was truly honored and excited to be invited to work at the very organization that had changed my life in so many ways. It has been a dream come true to be in an environment where everyone believes in inclusive employment. SOHI looked at my strengths and abilities, not my disability, and were willing to support me when I needed help. There’s nothing like working at a place where you know you are welcomed.
I love being able to interact with the SOHI staff, not just as an athlete but as a fellow staff member. I am included, and included in plans for our programs as well as everyday conversations. This is something that people with IDD often miss out on: the relationships a job can bring. I am also working in a place that is all about advancing opportunities for people with disabilities. Even during this pandemic, SOHI has been able to expand my role into virtual spaces to continue to reach our athletes. I know I am a real part of this OHANA (Hawaiian for family), and that is inclusion on the inside, not just the outside.
I am excited about my future with SOHI. I look forward to new areas of leadership opportunities as an athlete leader and I can’t wait to see where this new road will lead. I believe that people with disabilities bring so many talents to the workplace and I am glad I was invited to bring the skills I learned through the Athlete Leadership program to SOHI. But I think my favorite part of having a job is saying, “I have a job.” I am incredibly PROUD to finally be able to say those words.
AND I want to give back to the organization that has done so much for me. Each day I ask myself: How can I make a difference in someone’s life?
I hope I am doing that at SOHI.
