Announcer (00:06):
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(00:16):
Welcome to Networks Looks At, topics that are near and dear to our hearts at Networks that are really at the core of who we are. We hope you really find these helpful, so enjoy it. Take care.

(00:30):
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Nikita Arnett-Orr (00:37):
Hey, this is Nikita Arnett-Orr.

Joe Murphy (00:40):
And Joe Murphy from Networks for Training and Development.

Nikita (00:44):
This episode is part of our series about working in the disability field with a focus on roles and supported employment. These roles provide an integral part of making our communities inclusive.

Joe (00:55):
We hope you enjoy listening.

Nikita (00:57):
All right, welcome back listeners. We are so excited to have you hear today to listen to John from the Arc Alliance. John, welcome.

John Montgomery (01:09):
Thank you.

Nikita (01:10):
Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do, where you work, and maybe how long you've been in the field?

John (01:17):
Yeah, my name's John Montgomery. I work for the ARC Alliance and I'm a supports co-coordinator and I've been in the field for over a decade, so I really enjoy what I do.

Nikita (01:28):
Awesome, and for people who aren't familiar with supports coordination, what is that? What does that mean?

John (01:36):
So basically, we are like case managers. We help people with intellectual developmental disabilities and autism get services and get their needs met so they can be independent and hopefully live out their dreams.

Nikita (01:49):
Cool, and you said you've been in the field for about 10 years, over a decade?

John (01:55):
Yeah.

Nikita (01:56):
So what makes this job so fulfilling and attractive to you?

John (02:00):
The people we get to work with. They're just wonderful, wonderful beings and they remind you of the simplicity of life. Most of the people I work with, they look forward to their birthday. When their birthday happens, they're talking about their next birthday.

(02:14):
So it's like they just remind you of the simple things of life and just light you up and you can't describe how awesome people they are and to work with.

Nikita (02:22):
I too talk about my next birthday (laughs) when my birthday just passed (laughs).

John (02:25):
Right (laughs).

Nikita (02:28):
I'm an advocate for celebrating your birthday not just for the day but like the whole week, the whole month, and then like just carry on that energy until the next birthday (laughs).

John (02:38):
Right on, right on (laughs).

Nikita (02:39):
So you kind of spoke to this already, but what are the reasons make you stay in this field?

John (02:46):
The people we get to work with and also, I get to meet a lot of wonderful people. I mean, the people that help and support the people that I work with are just wonderful people to know and to get to meet. And then my peers that I work with at the Arc Alliance, they're just the best of people. You know, that's really what makes me stay in the field.

Nikita (03:05):
That's so wonderful and so positive and that's really a sentiment that seems to be shared among most professionals in this field, you know, they really love working with the people that they're serving and have awesome teams and support to help them out in that way.

John (03:20):
Definitely, it's just really awesome to get to help people and to get to work with people that want to do the same thing.

Nikita (03:26):
Mm-hmm. What do you think makes you really good at this job?

John (03:31):
I mean, it's really simple. Just a good listener, I feel, and so when I go out to see individuals or their families, I just sit there and listen, and you know what I mean? And you just listen to what they want for life and we just help connect them to it.

Nikita (03:46):
So you saw in the job description, "We need someone who is an active listener," and you're like, "Yeah, got it." (laughs).

John (03:52):
Yeah, I got that, yeah, and that's pretty much what I do. It's just listen to people and connect them.

Nikita (03:59):
Yeah, 'cause you're connecting them to a bunch of different services, so it's really important that you understand exactly what they're looking for, right?

John (04:08):
Exactly, yeah, and everyone's different so you just have to tailor it to that person and their family and what they want for life, yeah.

Nikita (04:15):
What kind of services are you connecting people to?

John (04:19):
So basically, we help people hear what they want for life. We call it the Life Course, we help them find out what their dreams are whether it be employment, we can help them find a job, a job coach. We can help them be independent in the community. If they want to learn how to swim we can figure that out. Maybe they want to be independent and living in their own apartment like their brother does, you know what I mean? So we can figure that out. And also, like, group homes, day programs and all of that stuff.

Nikita (04:48):
Awesome, yeah, so you're really supporting their whole life, what they want to do. Really great.

John (04:55):
Yeah.

Nikita (04:56):
This is my favorite question and I love hearing people's answers, but can you tell me about a feel-good or maybe funny moment that's happened on the job with the people that you support?

John (05:05):
I mean, a feel good recently, I mean there's so many to talk about but I'll just talk about a recent one 'cause it's close to my heart. I recently had someone retire from working. You know, they were just sitting at home and doing stuff and were, like, "Wow, they're so much more," you know what I mean? We know what they love to do. If they love music and they love just people.

(05:24):
So we actually hooked them up with a trainer who comes out and works out with them, out for like an hour three times a week but we didn't know how he would do, if he would like that. We knew it was in his best interests and I had no idea how it would go. But basically, he doesn't tell time, so he goes out and he sits in the dining room and waits for this person, his supporter, to come.

(05:46):
Even though he doesn't tell time, he knows when that person's coming and it just warms your heart 'cause that's how much he's looking forward to doing that, and just that someone's coming to visit him and also helping him work out. So, just a lot of fun.

Nikita (05:59):
(laughs). Probably knows exactly when that person is like one minute late. They're like, "Oh, no, no, no." (laughs).

John (06:06):
One time his niece did forget to tell him and he was sitting out there but, you know, I just warmed the niece up and was like, "He's just telling us how much he likes it and loves it so we know it's a good thing for him." So...

Nikita (06:17):
(laughs). That's awesome. Is there anything that you would like to say to people interested in working in this field or maybe something people need to know about working in this field?

John (06:29):
This field is just really great 'cause you get to help people, there's nothing better than that, but it's also a good feeling and it's always changing. You never know what phone call you're going to get. Even before this meeting, my phone starts ringing. So you're learning something new every day 'cause you get to work with people and support them.

(06:46):
I think that's something people don't think about, is how challenging and rewarding it can be 'cause you're always learning something new.

Nikita (06:52):
That's great. All right. Is there anything else you'd like to say, John?

John (06:57):
Thanks for your time.

Nikita (06:59):
Yeah, thank you so much for sharing your experiences and being on our podcast.

John (07:05):
Any time, nice to meet you, Nikita.

Nikita (07:06):
You too. (happy music).

Announcer (07:13):
Thank you for listening. We hope the information provided was helpful. Don't forget to stop by our website and take advantage of all we have to offer.

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