A handful of local businesses are committed to providing all islanders with the opportunity to engage in meaningful work.

October is the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an annual recognition of the positive impact of people with disabilities in the American workforce. On Oct. 7, the San Juan County Council issued a proclamation in honor of the month.

“When I first got into this quite a few years ago, I realized that people whom we label as having disabilities have some amazing abilities. This is a chance for people to use their abilities,” said Alan Johnson, an employment specialist with Sherwood Community Services, a nonprofit that provides inclusive services to children and adults with disabilities.

The Developmental Disabilities Community Services, a division of the Home and Community Living Administration, contracts with San Juan County Health and Community Services to provide employment and community inclusion services. The County has a subcontract with Sherwood to pair clients with jobs that match their interests and skill set, sign them up for enrichment activities and provide other services.

“We provide opportunities for people who normally don’t get them. A chance for them to have a job and connect with their community,” Johnson explained. “For a lot of my clients, I do end up being there each week as a job coach. But the goal is to be as independent as possible.”

Island Market has been contracting with Sherwood since 2021, and Grocery Manager Daniel Raymer says it has been “nothing but positives.” He oversees Erin White and Crystal Taylor, who are responsible for ensuring the shelves appear visually appealing to customers. This includes checking expiration dates, relocating misplaced items and straightening displays.

“It looks beautiful when they are done,” Raymer said. “Erin and Crystal both have their own strengths and have just finished a year with us. It’s powerful to have them on our team. We are a time-honored tradition of a family of grocers, connecting through the community one bag at a time. Everyone who works for us is a family member. They each have their own locker, clock in and eat lunch in the break room. If a customer asks for help, they know exactly where everything lives.”

White says her favorite part of the job is assisting shoppers with finding items. Taylor’s dad, Sandy, says she lights up when talking about her job and loves wearing the market uniform.

“People are really nice. I am making lots of friends,” Taylor said.

Sandy agreed that the social aspect and sense of independence are essential to Taylor. He added that she has learned to be responsible, venture outside her comfort zone and improve her time management skills.

Raymer has a brother-in-law with a disability, and has witnessed firsthand the impact of having a job coach and work that provides a paycheck.

“For the employees, it provides meaningful work and a chance to feel connected to the community. Also, for the community, it’s a great example of how supporting local programs is a win-win for everyone,” he said. “Being part of this program is incredibly rewarding. Their dedication truly enriches our workplace. It’s a team effort, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

At Orcas Power & Light Cooperative, Ken Brown has cleaned the office every Wednesday since 2018. He performs janitorial tasks, takes out the garbage and recycling, and says his favorite responsibility is sweeping the warehouse.

“Ken is really dedicated to the job and comes every week, always wearing his OPALCO swag when he comes,” said Manager of Communications Krista Bouchey. “He is a proud OPALCO member, and everyone here likes having him around, helping in the building.”

During the pandemic, OPALCO’s offices were closed to the public, and Brown was unable to come to work for many months. His mother, Judy Schliebus, reported that he greatly missed his job and wouldn’t entertain any other work offers, instead waiting patiently for the offices to reopen. Undaunted, Brown pivoted to washing exterior windows at OPALCO and sweeping the outside walkways. Brown is also involved in art lessons at the senior center and Zumba exercise classes.

Anthony Agostinelli has been part of the Lopez Island Library team since June 2022, serving as a collection assistant. He is responsible for shelving materials — a task that requires focus, accuracy and consistency to ensure patrons are able to find what they’re looking for.

“He’s especially skilled at organizing our film and television series collections, which is no small feat given how popular and well-used that section of the library is,” said Library Director Darren Hoerner. “Beyond shelving, Anthony helps with library decorations, both setting them up and carefully putting them away. We’re especially grateful for the attention he gives to wrapping up strings of lights — thanks to his care, we never face a tangle the next year. He also keeps a close eye on the film collection, flagging when a series is missing a volume, suggesting titles for us to consider, noting when a title’s genre is mislabeled, and even spearheading improvements such as reorganizing the ‘Western’ genre to make it easier for patrons to browse.”

Hoerner also appreciates the personality Agostinelli brings to the library.

“His rotating sunglass collection, each pair inspired by famous film characters, sparks conversation and adds a touch of fun to the workplace,” he said.

Human Services Manager Jami Mitchell says working with residents who receive employment supported services is one of the “most rewarding” parts of her job.

“I can see how the individuals and their families are positively impacted. Having a job, earning your own wages, contributing to the local economy, and being a part of the community increases a sense of purpose, self-confidence, and independence,” she said. “Employers who are interested in hiring a supported employee can contact me to learn more about this possibility to grow their workforce.”

Currently, nine people are utilizing Sherwood’s services, and there is room for more individuals with developmental disabilities who are interested in supported employment. Individuals or families interested in participating are welcome to contact Mitchell at jamim@sanjuancountywa.gov or 360-376-7926.