Have you ever had a bad day and then one person looks you in the eyes, smiles at you...and suddenly life doesn't seem so bad? Sometimes that's all it can take to turn your day around. Studies have shown that hiring people with disabilities can improve job morale and corporate culture. You are also adding [...]
THREE-TIME Rockin' Recipient Rachel Handlin is killin’ it at Cal Arts Institute! She's been working as a bartender at multiple events around campus, including receptions as well as gallery night, where students exhibit their work. At the end this school year, she will have 110 credits toward the 120 needed to graduate with her Bachelor [...]
"I'll have a whiskey sour and a glass of rosé for the lady, please?" It's Fact Friday again, and this is a fact that I wish was a myth. It's also a huge reason why I am so passionate about this #RubyAndNellaGoToWorkCampaign: The unemployment rate for people with disabilities has constantly hovered at or above 70 [...]
Rockin' Recipient Izzy's no stranger to the boardroom! She has been volunteering at GiGi's Playhouse in Chicago since 2013, while on summer break after her first year in the Elmhurst College ELSA Program. She interned that summer assisting the Playhouse Director with administrative and fundraising tasks as well as volunteering with their baby/toddler open play [...]
"I have a chocolate brownie in my lunch today and I am about to eat my own arm off...could you wrap this meeting up Ruby?" Through self-love and self-learning, a lot of our Ruby's Rainbow scholarship recipients become very strong self-advocates, which can lead them to other opportunities. Having their voices heard in boardrooms, at [...]
Rockin' Recipient Brandon came home and surprised his mom one day after he decided to go into Billabong, talk with a manager and fill out an application – and ended up getting the job ALL ON HIS OWN! His mom says it’s not about the money he makes or the time he spends there... "It’s [...]
Rockin’ Recipient Julia landed her dream job of being a cashier at Target and has been working there for over two years now! She gets to work independently every day by taking Uber or Lyft, and someday dreams of getting her own place closer to work. She works about 32 hours a week and is [...]
"Nella, we could be out of here right now if you would quit checkin' out the babes and get to work." ???? ???? I remember my first retail job after I graduated high school. I worked at Structure in the mall (who remembers that store?) and started off at at minimum wage at $4.25 an hour, and [...]
"Bean, Beans, the magical fruit..." ???????? Since I literally had two of the most delicious meals ever cooked for me by Zach and Ali a few weeks ago while visiting them to see what life was like for them after college, I know first hand the potential people with Down syndrome have when rockin' it in [...]
Remember our girl Kirsta from last year's drop-off at Bethel University? Well, this summer she worked at a local coffee shop as a Welcome Associate, where – in addition to her internship at the Children’s Museum – she continues to work one day a week during the school year. She reads to the kids during a [...]
