Empowering the Developmentally Disabled

Empowering the Developmentally Disabled

In continuing with our spotlight on Community Employment Services, please watch this great video that WJCL recently featured on one of the individuals we serve!

We are especially thankful to Ashley Jacobs of WJCL for doing such a fantastic job and to Laura Lee, Willie and William for making our partnership with DIRTT such a success!

Storytelling Feature - Willie of Community Employment Services

We are very excited to start bringing you "Storytelling Mondays"!  With such a rich history of our organization of more than 37 years, we certainly have a lot of stories to tell!

This month we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of one of our programs, Community Employment Services.  It's only fitting that today's storytelling post features Willie, one of the incredible staff of Community Employment Services!

CCDS individuals are profound people, according to Willie, an Employment Specialist with CCDS. He began working with CCDS as an assistant bus driver in 1973, when it was St. John’s Center on the Isle of Hope.

“I have experience working in the Shelter Workshop, Woodwork Shop and now presently as an Employment Specialist in Community Employment. I have enjoyed taking individuals to participate in the Special Olympics, going on field trips, and traveling out of town. While at St. Johns, an individual unfortunately wandered away. An all alert search started a panic among the staff. To make a long story short, I heroically rescued the individual who apparently had fell down this steep cliff at Isle of Hope River with the tide coming in. I assisted in rescuing this individual. During the 37 years being employed at CCDC, I experienced several jobs over the years: CCDS Workshop, Woodshop, Lawn Service, and now I enjoy working in Community Employment. If and when I retire I will always cherish my involvement in working with the staff and all CCDS individuals.”

Willie’s years of experience with CCDS make him full qualified to express the profound capabilities of the many individuals at CCDS. He’s pretty profound, himself.

Make sure to check back all this week as we show video, pictures and more history of Community Employment Services and the amazing staff, like Willie, who is incredibly dedicated to the success of the program and the individuals we serve!