It’s been a while since we’ve looked at Disability.gov, the website managed by the Labor Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). Working in conjunction with 21 federal agencies, the site provides people with disabilities, their families and caregivers, as well as educators and employers with comprehensive information for services and programs available in the U.S.
The site features a robust blog with multiple authors writing on a multitude of subjects. It also includes space for guest bloggers to contribute their own, first-person experiences, which is what caught our eye this week.
Jennifer Lynn Unrein is a 23-year old Kansas native with Williams Syndrome. Together with her mother, Wendi, she started a business called JennyLU Designs, which sells her original artwork on greeting cards, mugs, calendars, and jewelry, among other personal gift items. Her story reminds everyone how important it is to maintain your resolve when facing obstacles and to always pursue your passion.
It would have been easy enough for Jenny (as she prefers to be called) to just keep drawing her whimsical pictures on cards for friends and family. But as she writes in her guest blog: “I like making a difference in peoples’ lives.”
That was the seed for an idea she and Wendi had to make artwork that could be donated to local fundraisers. When that proved successful, the vision for JennyLU Designs took root. The next step was to get a grant that would fund their venture. After spending close to a year formulating the business plan, however, they were denied.
For others, the story might have ended there. For Jenny and Wendi, the adventure was just beginning. They sought out and found other funding resources for art supplies. They learned of a program run by the Kansas University Center that specifically helped young women with disabilities find employment opportunities. The program also tells Jenny’s story on their website, writing:
In addition to providing her with social skill and employer/employee relation training, Girls at Work helped Jenny gain work experience at Hobby Lobby, an arts and crafts store, and learn how to start her own small business.
Equipped with this new level of experience and knowledge, Jenny and her mother reapplied for the business grant. This time, they were accepted. The daughter and mother now travel to art shows and conferences for people with disabilities all over the U.S. with their wares. Thanks to the JennyLU Designs website, Jenny’s whimsical artwork and warm sentiments are available to the entire world. With a true artist’s temperament, Jenny concludes her blog post by writing:
My favorite part is seeing the people and seeing their reaction to my art. I like to put my ‘stamp’ on this world — make my own statement!!
Just remember that no matter what statement you want to make, there are resources available to train people with disabilities for any job and give them the skills they need to be successful; and don’t let hearing “no” prevent you from asking a second time.
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Image by MyThoughtsOn, used under its Creative Commons license.