Attention to Detail

Marissa, her mom Darena, and her sister Miranda took part in the Center’s Family Enrichment Weekend this fall. “Since Marissa has moved here, she has really blossomed,” says Darena.

ACC Student Flourishes Through Vocational Training.

It’s a routine Marissa Daignault is familiar with.

Each Tuesday, as part of her vocational training, the 17-year-old Anne Carlsen Center student prepares between four and eight rooms at Jamestown’s Comfort Inn for housekeeping during a half-hour session. She begins by opening the room’s shades and then moves to the linens, carefully removing sheets and pillowcases from beds. Having learned the procedure over a year ago—she focuses on completing the tasks independently.

ACC Community Integration Specialist Renee Spitzer accompanies Marissa to this and other vocational sites in Jamestown. With each day, she sees how students’ lives are enriched as they become more connected to the community. “I remember when I first started working at the Anne Carlsen Center, I would go to meetings and hear other staff talk about many activities the students were having difficulties doing,” Spitzer recalls. “When they are on the vocational sites, they are doing many of those activities willingly and with less difficulty.”

Students at the Center begin vocational training at the age of 14. They work in a wide variety of businesses and organizations, such as restaurants, churches, tanning salons, stores, machine shops, office buildings, grocery stores, and of course, hotels.

Marissa is one of 26 ACC students currently receiving vocational training in the community, learning new skills and meeting new people each week. By early 2010, the number of ACC students engaging in vocational opportunities will grow to 30.

Mutual Rewards

When a business agrees to become a vocational site for a student at the Anne Carlsen Center, it receives more than a set of tasks completed. “It helps the community to experience our individuals, as well as for our individuals to understand a field of work,” says Spitzer. “Business places really don’t say ‘no’… we explain the program and they usually give it a try. From there, it usually grows into a really nice friendship.”

The vocational sites and students become closely connected. Lisa Kapp, the general manager at the Comfort Inn, says she felt it was crucial to continue the partnership with the Center when she joined the hotel about a year ago. “The program helps give these individuals the opportunity to go into that social setting and gives them respect and meaning,” says Kapp. “It helps them feel they are important. That is very important for anyone.”

Marissa removes sheets and blankets from beds in one of the rooms in Jamestown’s Comfort Inn. The teen will normally prepare between four and eight rooms during her half-hour session of vocational training.

Hands-On Learning

Marissa has cerebral palsy, the most common neuromuscular disorder in children. CP affects each person a little differently, and a variety of complications can be present. Complications can include seizures, speech/language deficiencies, vision and hearing problems, cognitive disabilities, and problems with the respiratory system.

Marissa primarily utilizes sign language to communicate, and began learning her job by looking at pictures in a book Spitzer assembled for her. The pictures were sequenced the same as her vocational duties, showing Marissa the proper order for which to complete tasks. At times, she will sign a question to Spitzer, who will respond with a signed answer. Marissa is working on vocalizing more, and though she doesn’t yet form sentences, she can call to Spitzer if she is in another room. “When we started, we had a goal for Marissa to take care of a room and take care of it independently,” says Spitzer. “She can do that now.”

The daily strides Marissa is making in skills and confidence are apparent to her teachers and family. “Since Marissa has moved here, she has really blossomed,” says Marissa’s mom, Darena. “The care is wonderful, and Marissa loves her staff. There are opportunities to get out into the community—it is such a wonderful program.”

Spitzer is at the vocational site to answer any and all questions, but her job is not to do the work for Marissa—who is passionate about doing her own work. Marissa asks if she can go to work, even on days when she is not scheduled to do so. “Marissa is eager to go out for work,” says Spitzer. “She seems to really enjoy it. She loves to go places, meet people, and help serve.”

While at Comfort Inn, Marissa often works with Executive Housekeeper Liz Kostecky. “The work Marissa does cuts down on our room time, and it is definitely a big help,” says Kostecky. “She is very self-sufficient. She goes to work and does what she needs to.”

At the end of their time together each Tuesday morning, Marissa waves or says ‘bye’ to Spitzer. Already the teen is preparing for her next vocational session …and another opportunity to showcase her abilities, determination, and attention to detail.

Marissa’s tale of accomplishment through vocational work is just one of the many inspiring stories available in the Winter 2010 edition of The Ambassador. Click here to read the rest of these heart-warming stories.