Meet Celeste
Upon meeting Celeste, one of the first things most people recognize is her obvious love for fashion. She has become known for her stylish clothes, trendy shoes and her apparent talent for accessorizing every outfit with the perfect jewelry, scarf or hat. There is no doubt that she takes great pride in the way she looks.
What most people don’t know is that the zest for life Celeste now shows hasn’t always been there. Up until two years ago Celeste was working in our sheltered workshop. She had good days and bad days. She was often depressed and unmotivated to participate in social activities. Forget matching outfits; on some days Celeste could have cared less about her appearance. She rarely helped out with chores at her home and needed a lot of support from staff to help her with daily living skills.
That all changed when she had the opportunity to work in the community. Celeste works at a local company where she helps with company mailings. She interacts with her coworkers and has made a number of friends. This job means more than a paycheck to Celeste; it has given her a great sense of pride and has really boosted her confidence.
Her staff have noted that there is a noticeable difference at home too. “Celeste offers to help more at dinner time with meal preparations and overall has a much more upbeat positive attitude and is a joy to be around,” said Susan Sheppard, Residential Assistant.
She is actively involved in community outings and enjoys grabbing a cup of coffee with friends from time to time. She is very close to her mother and despite a recent move that added miles between the two, worrying staff about how she might respond, Celeste has done great.
One of the biggest improvements her staff noted was at the annual Ability Beyond Disability picnic. “To see Celeste up at the microphone singing Karaoke was definitely a giant step forward. Last year she did not have enough confidence in herself to do that although she had expressed to staff that she wanted to try it,” added Sheppard.
The changes in Celeste and the strides that she has made since starting her new job are incredibly encouraging to others. She has brought great joy to the staff that work with her and everyone around her.
Susan Sheppard - Residential Assistant
