| Is your workplace making you crazy? Do your | | | | assembly-line, labor intensive or entry level positions |
| co-workers get on your last nerve? There is no | | | | that most people would dread. However, every single |
| question that work can be a place that tests your | | | | person is proud of the work they do and they are |
| patience by lifting you up, tearing you down or | | | | eager to tell everyone they know about it. The work is |
| sometimes completely ignoring your contributions. It can | | | | not glamorous. It's not all that creative or dynamic. |
| be a place of passion and drive or a place of | | | | Unfortunately it will probably never be seen as |
| frustrated and burnt out clock-watchers. At | | | | something deserving of high wages or praise, but it |
| Chesapeake Service Systems (CSS), hundreds of | | | | serves a very important function in our society. These |
| people with mental retardation and other severe | | | | are jobs that give incredible meaning and value to |
| disabilities have a refreshingly honest point of view | | | | countless lives. |
| about work and how attitudes on the job can greatly | | | | 7. Life is too short to gossip, back-stab or criticize. |
| affect happiness and work satisfaction. We can all | | | | People, who have the most compelling reasons to |
| learn a lot from how they choose to see the world. | | | | complain about difficult life circumstances, choose not |
| 1. Be grateful that you have a job to go to every | | | | to. Life is challenging for everyone. We all deal with the |
| morning. 20.3 million people with severe developmental | | | | daily frustrations of having to work with people who |
| disabilities are unemployed in this country. People with | | | | are different from us. Some people communicate |
| severe disabilities who are out of work often suffer | | | | differently, some are slower or faster than us, and |
| mentally, physically, and developmentally digress. Those | | | | some don't share our same enthusiasm, but we all are |
| who have a job, come into work with big smiles on | | | | required to work together. Conflicts arise on the work |
| their faces. They want to come to work on the | | | | floor here, but they never last long or become spiteful, |
| weekends, holidays and even during inclement | | | | catty, or mean. Being focused and grateful on the job |
| weather because they know how it dramatically | | | | leaves little time or energy for negative interactions |
| affects their lives for the better. Regardless of whom | | | | with co-workers. Positive attitudes give-way to positive |
| you are, having a job and a purpose in life is essential | | | | interactions. |
| to self-esteem, independence, and overall well-being. It | | | | 8. Focus on what you have, instead of what you don't |
| might be difficult to drag yourself out of bed on | | | | have. It's easy to get caught up in keeping up with the |
| Monday morning, but without a job to go to; your | | | | Jones'. In a society where it's all about the nicest car, |
| quality of life would suffer immensely. | | | | clothes, and house we miss out on enjoying what we |
| 2. Every job (no matter how small it may appear) is | | | | have in the constant search for something bigger and |
| important. Whether you have difficulty communicating, | | | | better. Many of our clients with mental retardation, |
| moving, hearing, seeing, or comprehending, every job | | | | autism, and other severe disabilities have very little in |
| for a person with a severe disability is important. To | | | | life. Almost all cannot drive, don't own a home, and |
| someone without a disability, putting a cable into a bag | | | | many wear the same clothes year after year. |
| could seem monotonous and boring. It could appear to | | | | However, that does not change how happy and |
| be just a very small part of a larger contractual | | | | fulfilled they are in life. The one thing they want is to |
| obligation with an outside company, but to that one | | | | feel normal in the here and now. Working gives them |
| individual performing the task; it is their one chance to | | | | that feeling and as long as they are provided with that |
| be like everyone else. When they are on the job, they | | | | opportunity, they feel like millionaires. |
| are not a person with mental retardation; they are a | | | | 9. Enjoy the little things in life. Some of our clients get |
| co-worker and an essential part of a team with a | | | | very small paychecks because they can only work a |
| goals and objectives. Status and titles have no | | | | few days a week, but to them, it's like winning the |
| meaning here because everyone is an essential part | | | | lottery. It's not about the monetary value of the check, |
| of the companies' success. | | | | but the paycheck alone that gives them pride in |
| 3. Greet your co-workers with a kind word or smile | | | | themselves and what they do. Going to the mall and |
| when you pass them in the hallway or when they | | | | buying something with their own hard-earned money is |
| enter your workspace. In a world that is increasingly | | | | an indescribable joy that most people take for granted. |
| cut off from people and emotions, simple gestures that | | | | The next time you buy something for yourself, |
| display kindness and openness are harder and harder | | | | remember how hard you worked to get it. It will make |
| to find. Walking onto our work floor is an instant | | | | your purchase even more rewarding. |
| mood-lifter. Everyone who visits is welcomed with | | | | 10. Get excited about going to work. Even if it's raining |
| open arms and greeted in a positive manner, | | | | outside, you are stuck in traffic or are running late, you |
| regardless of who you are or how much money you | | | | were hired because of your unique abilities and talents. |
| make. Everyone wants to know how your day is | | | | You were specifically chosen because someone was |
| going, to shake your hand and to tell you how excited | | | | impressed by what only you can bring to the table. |
| they are to be on the job. Think of how differently | | | | Someone had faith in you and believed in you. |
| your day would go if you treated your co-workers in | | | | Celebrate and enjoy that fact! |
| that manner. | | | | So many people with severe developmental disabilities |
| 4. Look for ways to encourage your co-workers to | | | | are never even considered for employment. They are |
| perform better on the job and you will all reap the | | | | all too often perceived as not being useful to society, |
| rewards. It is not uncommon to see people on the | | | | much less on the job. Imagine how it would feel |
| work floor assisting others with their daily tasks or | | | | knowing you have a lot to contribute to the world, but |
| giving an encouraging word. No one is viewed as | | | | that no one will give you a chance. As a result you |
| competition or as someone to fear, but rather as | | | | spend your entire life hoping that someone will come |
| people who are all in the same boat, trying to make | | | | along who will see you for who you really are and give |
| the best of some very challenging situations. When | | | | you an opportunity to shine. |
| someone accomplishes a personal or professional | | | | People with mental retardation and other severe |
| goal, their achievements are championed by all. There | | | | disabilities are elated to be at work. They are often the |
| is a deeper understanding that when one person wins, | | | | first to arrive and most days dread having to leave. |
| everyone wins. | | | | Their work ethic is something beyond compare |
| 5. Take breaks and have fun, even if it's just for a few | | | | because they know how it feels to be isolated and |
| minutes. Understand the value of balance in your life. | | | | segregated away from normal life. They appreciate |
| Due to physical, mental, and emotional limitations, | | | | the opportunities they are given and show their |
| breaks throughout the day are mandatory for our | | | | gratitude by excelling on the job. |
| clients. Because of the unique circumstances, | | | | Our motto is: "It's not about the work they produce, but |
| becoming stressed and overwhelmed not only affects | | | | what the work produces in them." That is true for all |
| one person, but can quickly permeate the entire work | | | | people in all work environments. In many ways your |
| force and wreak havoc for everyone. Knowing when | | | | work defines who you are and brings to the surface |
| to stop, to give your mind and body a break, is | | | | your core values and character. It can make your life |
| essential to maintaining a happy and healthy work | | | | enjoyable or completely miserable. It's all in how you |
| environment for people with and without disabilities. | | | | choose look at it and how you choose to let it affect |
| 6. Take pride in what you do, regardless of the pay or | | | | you. Take some time to see life from someone else's |
| recognition. We all want to be known for being the | | | | perspective and learn the important lessons that they |
| best at what we do. It's human nature to crave | | | | are trying to teach you. It is often in the most |
| recognition and monetary compensation for hard work | | | | unexpected places where we find the greatest gifts. |
| and dedication. Many of the jobs here are | | | | |