At Options For All, we believe that everyone deserves a career they love. To begin the day with a sense of purpose and to end it with a feeling of fulfillment. Through our donors’ contributions and the tireless work of Options For All staff, finding a dream job as a person with a developmental disability is a reality. A graduate of our Film & Media Program, Ludivico Estrada, is a perfect example.
“Never give up!” These are the words of one of our graduated participants, Eric Baker, who recently earned his dream job. Many of our participants have impressive employment histories from restaurants to film production studios and everything in between. Of course, these opportunities don’t appear overnight. They are the result of hard work, determination, and a little help along the way. That’s where Options For All comes in!
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced every organization to rethink how they meet the needs of those they serve. For Options For All, this meant finding new, innovative ways to connect our participants to staff and resources. We quickly revolutionized our process to create alternative services that allowed for remote learning and engagement. The aim was to deliver a meaningful curriculum that reinforced wellness and gave program participants a sense of inclusion. We wanted to improve our participants’ quality of life and address the challenges of social isolation and emotional disconnection. Now, participants can interact with each other and their Direct Service Professionals in a safe, virtual environment. According to OFA Engagement Coach Denice Patron, “It’s truly been a whirlwind, but we have been able to support and deliver services consistently and safely since the start of the public health crisis.