Growth = Success: Hired before graduation!
ODC congratulates Thomas, who recently landed his first job with Walgreens in Minocqua! Thomas is a Project SEARCH Minocqua intern, and will graduate from the program in May.
ODC has known Thomas since 2008, when he lived in Wisconsin Rapids and worked in ODC’s center based-training program. He made great progress within ODC, and with the support of the ODC team, began volunteering in the community, at South Wood County Recreational Center and Jeremiah’s Crossing. In February 2020, Thomas left the Wisconsin Rapids area to move to Minocqua to be closer to family..
When Thomas moved to Minocqua, he was able to reconnect with ODC’s team in the Project SEARCH program there.
He did one of his internships at Walgreens in Minocqua, and even though he hasn’t officially graduated from Project SEARCH, Walgreens has already hired him!
“I’ve seen incredible growth in Thomas,” says Jennifer, ODC’s Northwoods Employment Coordinator. “At the beginning of Project SEARCH, we had some challenges and some things to work on. Now he is much more social, wants to work and do his best. He does his job without making mistakes. Thomas has become more independent as he is living on his own, he calls for his own bus rides and he called and ordered his own pizza the other day. I had a talk with him today on the phone…before it would be one or two words and to the point…today he wanted to talk more! He is a huge success story!”
Congratulations Thomas! ODC is very proud of your growth and success!