MARYSVILLE – It wasn’t just a Christmas wish or a New Year’s resolution, it’s been a lifelong goal.
Ron Peters of Marysville is in his 50s and has always wanted a job. But since he has cerebral palsy the possibilities are limited, some said impossible.
But Peters, with the help of Jo Lynn Rothrock of Sherwood Community Services, proved them wrong.
Peters received the first paycheck of his life Dec. 1 after working for three weeks at the Mountain View Presbyterian Church. He helps in the office shredding papers.
Church office manager Stephanie Clark said Peters directly helps her.
“It’s a win-win,” she said. “We want to be able to help folks. It helps make him feel a little independent.”
Alpha Jawneh, one of Peters’ Volunteers of America caregivers, said he has noticed a difference in his client since he got the job.
“He’s always happy to come to work,” Jawneh said.
Sherwood Community Services helps people with disabilities find jobs. Rothrock has been working with Peters for about six months.
“We took little steps,” she said. “He took one step forward then one back. It’s like a Christmas miracle.”
He can’t communicate verbally, but he has about 200 personal signs he uses to try to get his message across. Such as he patted his pocket when he was paid his first check by Clark, then showed his trust in Jawneh by handing the money over to him as Peters got back to work.
“It’s got to be frustrating to understand but not be able to verbalize,” Rothrock said. “People judge him, but he’s smart.”
She said Peters is excited about getting paid right before Christmas. He has a brother in Everett he wants to buy a present for.
Setting up Peters to shred paper was not easy. They had to find just the right shredder so it would be safe. And they had to build a box and a short ramp that leads to the shredder because of Peters’ limited movement in his left arm. Peters can work a few hours at a time before fatigue sets in.
Sherwood Community Services is looking to help Peters even more. They want to get him an I-Pad with an app that can help him communicate simply by touching it to his cheek.
Rothrock said Peters is a very determined worker.
“He doesn’t like when I try to help,” she said. “He has to do it on his own.”
