This young man is 25 years old. He lives in his own home with 24/7 supervision by employed staff. He lives approximately 12 miles from downtown Athens. His 2 acre property is in a rural part of the area and is very scenic. His parents live about 2 miles away.
He is a very good-natured guy with a great sense of humor. When his spirits are up, he is cooperative and friendly. He enjoys riding bicycles with a friend (he has a bicycle path on his property). He enjoys kicking a soccer ball around the yard. He also enjoys computers -- he prefers Macintosh, but will 'tolerate' Windows. He enjoys shopping for clothes (he has excellent taste and definite preferences). Recently, he's been helping out with gardening around his house. He also loves to do office-type chores, such as shredding paper and removing staples.
He especially loves movies -- some of his favorites are Grease, Ghostbusters (the entire set), all of the Ernest movies, Short Circuit, Oliver!, and all of the Back to the Future movies. Lately, he's become a big fan of the Shrek movies.
He has language processing deficits, especially when it comes to oral expression. People who meet him have a very hard time understanding him. However, his comprehension is excellent, though new people usually think otherwise and sometimes forget that he is listening to every word you say even though he may seem oblivious to your presence.
When agitated, confused, or provoked, he can become aggressive and violent. These episodes are rare and are signalled by clues that a trained person can identify. We have found the best way to avoid agitation and aggression is by having meaningful days and purposeful activities and by having him spend time with people who want to be with him and who sincerely enjoy his company.
We are looking for people who have a sincere interest in become friends with this young man. This is a great opportunity for people to get involved who understand that people with disabilities are full-fledged members of the community and should not be set apart from every one else. This is also a particularly wonderful opportunity for people who have little or no experience working with people with disabilities.
We are wanting volunteers to engage this young man in activities that you both will enjoy. Spending just one or two hours per week with him would be fantastic. You will need some training before you work with him, which we will provide. We need people who are patient, have constant smiles, and project relaxing, calming personalities. (If you have a high-strung hyper personality and are prone to excessive talking, this is probably not the right place for you.) You will never be alone with him -- there will always be trained staff available.
We are always looking for people wanting part-time and full-time employment. In fact, our employment policy encourages people to apply even though we know that the position will not be a good match for everyone who applies. If you are looking for a job, or a career, that is challenging, personally satisfying and involves making a clear difference in a person's life, you should consider applying even if you have no experience. We provide outstanding training and guidance. You will have a short trial period with lots of training and guidance as a way for you to find out if this position is right for you.
Here are some of the basic personal qualities all applicants need to have:
All applicants also need:
Criminal records check, MVR, and drug screen will be obtained upon hire.