Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 6, 1992 TAG: 9202060604
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
HARD WORK PAYS OFF IN AWARD
"Time to go work," says Jim Williams as he picks up his lunch and "ID" - a scrap of paper with his name and the address of the group home where he lives.Williams, 23, is usually the first one ready to return to his job at CTC Distribution Services.
His love for his job and his faithful service at CTC since August 1990 earned Williams the 1991 Employee of the Year Award from the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.
Linda St. Clair, director of Goodwill Industries Tinker Mountain, and Lynn Lawson, program coordinator of the Hazelridge Mental Health Services group home, nominated Williams. Mayor Noel Taylor presented the award during a recent Roanoke City Council meeting.
Neither James Williams nor his wife, Anita, had dared hope for such an honor for their son.
"When we learned he had a job, we were surprised and held our breath," Anita Williams said. "And when the case worker told me he won an award, I couldn't believe it. It still didn't sink in that it was for the whole state of Virginia!"
His father, equally astonished, explained his joy: "When Jim was 2 years old and finally learned to walk, I broke down and cried."
The Williams, of Forest Park Boulevard Northwest, sought help for their son, taking him to the Cleveland (Ohio) Clinic, but little could be done for his severe retardation. Development in speech and independence that most parents take for granted did not occur for Jim, and his parents did not know how to teach him to care for himself.
Williams' parents placed him in the mental health group home when 8 and trained personnel began teaching him daily living skills. When he turned 12, Williams entered Roanoke County Occupational School, where teachers taught him basic arithmetic and he continued to work on speech and self-care. He stayed there until he turned 21 and was no longer eligible to attend public school.
His instructors did not consider him a candidate for job training, but Lawson, program coordinator at the group home, saw potential.
"I noticed that once you taught Jim a skill, he would repeat the action until you told him to stop," Lawson said. "His personality was also in his favor. Jim is a wonderful, personable individual, cooperative and well-liked by his peers."
Lawson contacted Goodwill Industries Tinker Mountain Inc., which serves 185 Southwestern Virginians with disabilities, to train and find a job for Williams. After studying a client's capabilities, Goodwill staff match skills to specific jobs and provide on-the-job training. They guarantee the employer will be satisfied with job performance.
But the first step involves persuading an employer to give the disabled person a chance.
Jim Williams got his job in a roundabout way, though.
Mary Ward, dietitian at the group home, suggested to her husband, David, that CTC hire Williams on a trial basis.
David Ward, the distribution company's operations manager, spoke with Robert Gold, vice president of the Minnesota-based company.
Gold was willing to hire Williams, although he admits he did not realize at the time the extent of Williams' disability.
But Gold needed an OK from the home office, and personnel there had questions concerning workers' compensation and that put the placement on hold.
When the green light was finally given in August 1990, St. Clair and four Goodwill job coaches began four months training Williams to unload tractor trailers, carrying shipments for mail-order companies, at the CTC's Valleypointe warehouse.
Later, Williams created another job for himself. He noticed that packages often jammed and fell off the conveyor belt when they switched lines. Standing between two belts, he kept the boxes moving, turning from one belt to the other. His work helped speed the switching of packages from one belt to another.
Williams is paid less than minimum wage with the approval of the Department of Labor. If an employee can make some contribution, but not 100 percent, the employer and the placement agency calculate the percentage of what he can contribute and pay him accordingly. St. Clair said Williams is the first person GITM has placed at less than 100 percent pay.
Gold said he is proud of Williams' accomplishments, and feels a great deal of the credit for his success goes to fellow workers who accepted him and made him feel comfortable in the work place. Co-workers describe Williams as friendly and fun to be with, often singing words to songs he has heard frequently.
Williams' parents are not only proud of his accomplishments, but also are grateful for the opportunity so many agencies working together provided for him.
"This award to my son with a severe mental handicap signifies how important it is for mental health services funding to continue because of all the good it does. Only the parents of the mentally retarded know the pain, guilt, frustration and inability to lead a normal life this handicap brings," James Williams said.
Memo: CORRECTION