History

An Interview with Community Outreach Employment Consultant Donna Sambora-Byouse

By: Mary Kate Maloney, Colorado College development fellow

Donna Sambora-Byouse has extensive experience working alongside those with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community. Previously a Case Manager, and later a teacher with Goodwill’s Possibilities, Donna now works as an employment consultant with Community Outreach. Community Outreach is an organization committed to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in the workplace.

The Arc Pikes Peak Region is lucky to have Donna around our office twice per week accompanying one of our staff members, Amanda, who assembles our guardianship and membership packets. Donna looks forward to the computer lab that will be housed in the new Building for Change Inclusive Campus, as it will help her teach computer skills to people she job coaches. Learn more below about how Donna helps people with I/DD to excel in their careers.

Job Coaching & Development 

At Community Outreach, Donna works in job coaching and job development for the I/DD community, with anywhere from 15-18 people on her caseload. In job development, Donna helps her clients to prepare for and join the workforce. After meeting her client and applying for services through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Donna works on resume-building, mock interviews, and other soft skills such as dress code. She reaches out to potential places of employment, and approaches management to see if they are interested in hiring her clients.

“Looking for businesses that are willing to hire an individual with I/DD can be challenging,” Donna explained. “Some businesses, especially those that are larger-scale, don’t recognize that individuals with I/DD are some of the hardest, most committed workers.”

As a job coach, Donna assists her clients who are already employed with necessary job skills, occasionally accompanying her clients to work. “I’m the middle woman,” Donna continued, “I work with employers and employees to ensure both parties are satisfied.” It is important to Donna that her clients are working jobs that challenge and inspire them. 

Job Coach Donna with The Arc PPR Staff Team Member, Amanda.

Practicing Digital Literacy

When Donna practices soft skills with her clients, they most often work on digital literacy. This entails turning on a computer, reading a web page, typing, and other skills necessary to navigate the digital world. In today’s workplace, everything is computerized. Computer skills are essential to employment. Lack of computer skills is a huge barrier to entrance into the working world. Digital literacy opens up a whole new world to Donna’s clients, allowing them to be more independent in their everyday life. In addition to employment opportunities, computer skills open a slew of other doors, such as learning hobbies and joining communities online. 

Many of Donna’s clients don’t know how to turn on a computer when they start job training with Community Outreach. Approaching computer use alone for the first time is very intimidating. Donna sees The Arc PPR’s new computer lab, an integral part of the Building for Change Inclusive Campus, as a valuable contribution to the I/DD community, because it will provide a space where individuals can face the digital world with support.

The Arc PPR staff members and other computer users will help to break down barriers to computer use, such as lack of internet access, slow typing, or online predators. The Building for Change computer lab will allow users to practice their skills, while providing a place for instructors to share their knowledge with the I/DD community. In addition, the computer lab will be an accessible community hub where users can surf the web, apply for jobs, and socialize both online and with fellow computer users.

Digital literacy is integral to independence in today’s world. As The Arc PPR aims to further the independence of the I/DD community, the organization is determined to provide this community with an accessible computer lab.

To help make the computer lab a reality, please donate to Building For Change during this year’s IndyGive! campaign at www.indygive.com/thearc.