Second try - March is Developmental Disabilities Month - and UDS and a success story is the best way to show how businesses can advance their bottom line- and employee moral by hiring diversity.

1. Mission Moment:
Community Employment
Success Story
Pegg Milroy, CESP, Employment Specialist
Marianne Senvisky, Community Employment Services Manager
March 24, 2016

2. About Don
Don is a 39-year old individual with more than 18 years of
administrative support work experience with the Lower Colorado
River Authority (LCRA) in Texas. He and his parents left Austin,
Texas, in 2014 to relocate to Ohio to be near family due to his
father’s health concerns. LCRA created an annual customer
service award and lapel pin in honor of Don to recognize the
positive impact he made during his tenure. A talented public
speaker, he has traveled to Krakow, Poland and Washington, DC to
speak on behalf of people with developmental disabilities. Don
has been a member of Toastmasters for more than 12 years and
has always volunteered in his community and for his church. He
now works part time as an office clerk for Environmental Design
Group in Akron. On Mondays, Don volunteers and assists with
computer keyboarding in first grade classes at Evamere
Elementary School in Hudson, Ohio where his sister is a
kindergarten teacher. Don has accomplished all this and more
with Down Syndrome.

3. Employment Goal
 A part-time office position in the greater
Macedonia area where he could apply his proven
customer service and administrative support skills.
 To be hired before the holidays!
Supports Provided
 Employment First team coordination of services
 Customized job development, coaching and follow-
along by UDS
 Transportation and long-term follow-along by
Summit DD
 Strong family support and advocacy of Don
 EDG collaboration to support Don’s success on the
job

4. Don’s Path to Employment
 August 21, 2015 – Shon Christy and Gary Knuth referred Don’s family to Community
Employment Services for assistance.
 August 22, 2015 – Marianne Senvisky met with Don and his parents to discuss how UDS could
help Don achieve his employment goal.
 August 27, 2015 – Don and his parents interviewed Pegg Milroy, CESP before choosing UDS to
provide services.
 October 16, 2015 – Following Don’s referral from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities,
Pegg completed Don’s intake and began weekly job search meetings. She also teamed with
Shon to advocate for Don.
 October 26, 2015 – Environmental Design Group (EDG) e-mailed UDS regarding a part-time
office clerk position they were creating with the hope of filling it with a person with
disabilities.
 November 3, 2015 – Marianne met with EDG to discuss their job opportunity and presented
Don as a prospective candidate. Shon called Jeff Kerr, EDG VP, to personally recommend
Don.
 December 11, 2015 – Don interviewed with EDG and subsequently offered the position.
Happily Don achieved his goal and was able to spend the holidays with his family knowing he
would start working after the first of the year.
 January 12, 2016 – Don’s first day on the job!

5. Introducing Don’s Café at EDG
 Serves guests and employees hot and
cold beverages and snacks.
 Maintains the café and equipment and
restocks products.
 Don’s favorite task is making popcorn
for his coworkers every Friday.
 He is also responsible for collecting
recyclables, shredding documents, mail
sorting and plant watering. Don helps
set up and tear down for staff meeting
lunches and supports food safety.

6. How can you help?
 Duplicate Don’s success story in your company
 Champion diversity hiring within your organization
 Share HR contacts and job leads with Community Employment Services
 Refer people with disabilities to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities for
job placement assistance. UDS has two OOD contract counselors on staff to
help.
 Invite UDS staff to present the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and
the no-cost supports available to your management team.

7. In memory of Don Rettberg Sr.
April 13, 1930 – February 28, 2016