Keith's Story*

It is amazing to see where some compassion, a little creativity and a desire to serve others can lead. These qualities enable persons with physical or developmental disabilities and their Circle of Friends to persist in achieving their goals.

Keith, a person whom Bridge serves, had as one of his long-time goals to go out into the community on a weekly basis. After brainstorming with his Circle about volunteer possibilities that would help him build a resume for later employment, Keith and his Circle embarked on a campaign to find a suitable volunteer position.

They were elated when someone suggested that perhaps the public library could use someone to rewind videos that had been returned. When they proposed this to the library staff, they were told that the library did not really need that service because tapes were being returned already rewound, and besides, they did not have a tape rewinder. Keith and his Circle were disappointed to learn that what they had thought was a perfect project for Keith wasn't needed and wouldn't work. But undeterred, they continued to think and talk about possibilities among themselves. Then they had an idea. If the library would permit Keith to come and rewind their tapes twice a week, the Circle would buy the tape rewinder and give it to the library. The library agreed to the proposal.

Soon Keith was going twice a week to his newly invented volunteer job. He loved it! AND the library discovered that, indeed, many of its tapes were being returned without having been rewound. Keith had plenty to keep him busy! Relationships began to form between Keith and his co-workers at the library. They looked forward to his arrival each week. And when his tape rewinder broke it was the library that purchased a replacement!

Because of his success with volunteering, Keith gained the confidence to pursue a paying job in earnest. With the encouragement of his Circle and their advocacy efforts, Keith found a Division of Vocational Rehabilitation counselor who helped him land a job with "At Work", using his demonstrated skills from the library. When Keith's job became full time it was necessary for him to retire from his volunteer position. The library staff was greatly saddened when it heard the news that Keith would be leaving. They held a going-away celebration in his honor that touched everyone involved in a very special way. It had been a win-win situation for all concerned. Keith had had the chance to prove that he could do a good job and enter that experience on his resume, plus make many new friends. The library got a need met that it didn't know it had, thanks to Keith and his Circle. In fact, the library valued that position so much that after Keith left they invited another man with a disability to take his place!

Circles of Friends are powerful catalysts for building relationships of respect among community members and persons with disabilities. Often we don't realize how much we need each other until our lives intersect and whole new possibilities emerge!

* Story used with permission

For more information please visit Circles of Friends, Forming a Circle, Circle Volunteers, Facilitator Training, Award Winning Model, Volunteers and How to Apply.

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