When he was in high school, Sam received vocational skills training and earned school credit through a school-to-work arrangement with Life & Work Connections. He went on to find a job in the community, where he is building relationships with coworkers and is gaining work experience. “I think I’ll do this for a while,” he says, “but I may change jobs someday.” Sam has also volunteered on the equipment squad for the Mizzou Tigers football team.
Life & Work Connections serves Sherry and other adults of the baby boom generation whose aging parents are less able to provide natural supports. Sherry enjoys her life in the community. Years ago when she moved from her mother’s home, she moved into a group home and worked at a sheltered workshop. These were considered the residential and vocational options for people with developmental disabilities at the time. Today, Sherry lives in her own apartment, and works for an employer in the community. “I don’t want to go back to the way things were,” she says. “I feel like this is my life.”
Life & Work
connections
Meaningful life and work are important—we all appreciate belonging and giving to our community. For people with disabilities, fully participating in the community can sometimes be challenging. Life & Work Connections helps meet these challenges through life skills training and monitoring, expanded work opportunities and vocational training. From youth in transition to adults living in their own homes, persons served are building skills for full community participation.