Representative Joel Kitchens Celebrated Disability Employment Awareness with Door County YMCA Employee

Representative Joel Kitchens visited Elizabeth Gierhahn on Monday, March 7^th at the Door County YMCA as part of the Take Your Legislator to Work Campaign, organized each year by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.  

The campaign coordinates visits between legislators and their constituents with disabilities.  During the visit, Mr. Kitchens got to see community-integrated employment in action and learn more about the value it brings to the employee, employer and greater community.  Elizabeth shared her passion for assisting members and talked about how much she truly loved her job working in the Aquatics Department of the Sturgeon Bay YMCA Program Center.

Cindy Zellner-Ehlers, Children Services Program Manager and representative for the Board for People with Developmental Disabilities shared, “the opportunities for employment at businesses like the YMCA are so fantastic for Elizabeth and others with disabilities because it really allows them to focus on their strengths – in this case, Elizabeth is great with people - so this is a perfect fit. Community employment promotes full citizenship and inclusion, dispelling the myths and stereotypes that we still fight regarding what people of all abilities can and cannot do. The value system around the world of work is promotion of real lives, real work. Elizabeth is an excellent celebration of community employment and absolutely loves her work at the Y.”  Mr. Kitchens was a gracious guest and even allowed Elizabeth to show him first- hand how she runs the slide at the Y – after two fun joy rides, his visit was complete!

When people with disabilities work in the community at a competitive wage, they are less likely to rely on publicly-funded programs.  And, 87% of customers say they would prefer to patronize businesses that employ people with disabilities.  The Take Your Legislature to Work Campaign aims to bring awareness to these programs that benefit so many in our community.

For more information contact:  Beth Moss, Beth.Moss@Wisconsin.gov