Shawn’s Success

Shawn knew he could live independently. He just needed a little help to get there. After graduating from high school, Shawn continued in Frederick County Public Schools as part of its SUCCESS program, a secondary vocational program for young adults with disabilities. He earned his Maryland Certificate of Completion while starting to work in a local grocery store, stocking shelves and cleaning. But Shawn knew he could do more. He enjoyed the combination of learning and working, so he turned to Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley’s Supported Employment Program to continue his pursuit of a career that would support his goal of independence. Within the program, GIMV staff assessed Shawn's needs and talents, tailoring job-training and personal finance resources, among other services, to support his dream. That dream: to own his own home and marry his longtime girlfriend, Rachael. GIMV helped Shawn find a full-time job with more growth potential at Fort Detrick, the U.S. Army base in Frederick County. The position represented a big step on his journey to independence. Shawn's position is contracted through Horizon Goodwill Industries, GIMV’s Western Maryland neighbor that also serves several counties in Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The two Goodwill districts work together to make sure that Shawn has everything he needs to succeed, including ongoing training with a Goodwill job coach, securing transportation to and from work everyday, and understanding his finances. Thanks largely to his new position, Shawn has achieved his goals. He and Rachael moved out of his parents’ home and into an apartment before purchasing a home of their own in 2016. A year later, they got married. Not too shabby for GIMV’s 2017 Achiever of the Year. “Goodwill is like family to me,” Shawn said. “They help show that people with disabilities are just like everyone else.”