Mike Lands His Dream Job!

Thanks to you and your support, Mike was able to navigate the ups and downs of employment and has become a shining star on his new team.

Sometimes you can’t break ground without a stumble or two.

That was the experience for Mike, who navigated the difficult path that people with developmental disabilities encounter when looking for community-based employment.

Mike was not unfamiliar with hard work and that is thanks to you and your support. As a graduate of Little City’s Employee Development Services program, Mike was able to learn the necessary skills to thrive in community employment.

For nearly 10 years, he worked as part of an enclave at a local hospital, gaining valuable experience. But he was ready to branch out on his own and find community employment. Mike found that dream job at a local restaurant, where his duties were cleaning and performing routine maintenance.

Unfortunately, that particular dream did not last long as the restaurant decided to use an outside contractor for that work – a possible employment reality for anyone.

“It’s hard for anyone to lose a job and it was hard on him. He felt it was something he did, and I had to really coach him through that part,” said Keenya Coley, Mike’s longtime job coach at Little City. “I just reassured him that he did the best he could and that he could still find a job he really wanted.”

That dream became a reality last year when Mike found the job that stuck.
Mike started at MOD Pizza in the local community last fall and has found a perfect fit there. He cleans dishes and surfaces, keeps facilities clean, and helps prep areas, and he has come to love his role.

It hasn’t just been Mike’s achievement in earning the new job; he also brings value to his new employer. As he’s grown in the role, Mike has established a reliable work ethic, an ability to be thorough in every task, and a can-do attitude, all of which have made him a valuable team player.

“Mike has a very humble spirit and great attitude and is always eager to work. He even asked about finding a job at Little City because it took a while to find the MOD Pizza position and he was just ready to go,” Keenya said. “He really loves it, and MOD Pizza has been great. You hear a lot of corporations talk about diversity, but you don’t always see it at the local level. They really have embraced Mike and made him part of the team.”

Mike is just happy to work again and find the kind of job that he spent years hoping he could one day have. He said his favorite part is the people he works with and helping customers.

Mike’s story is one of many that you help create at Little City through our Employee Development Services program – in fact, 61 adults just like him earned their first job last year thanks to what you give to support individuals with disabilities.