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♪♪

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♪♪

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-Seattle has one 
of the hottest job

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markets in the country.

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Just take a walk around
South Lake Union

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and you'll see the sidewalks
jammed

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with a brand new workforce.
With 10,000 employees,

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even the City of Seattle
is a major employer today.

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And integrated
into all the cities

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jobs are close
to 100 positions

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that have a very 
special distinction.

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They're called Supported
Employment.

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-It can be people
with cerebral palsy, people

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with down syndrome,
people with autism.

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-Generally, it's going to be
a cognitive disability

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that occurs between birth
and 18 years of age.

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-Generally, I try to go to 
lunch at 1,

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so maybe we can meet her

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at let’s say if 2:30 works 
for her 2:30 or 3.

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-We start with what are the
actual workplace needs?

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What are the contributions

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that these workplaces
are looking for?

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And where are those entry
level tasks

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that we can bundle together

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to form a supported
employment opportunity?

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-The city Supported 
Employment Program

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is for individuals with
developmental disabilities.

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But the key is
these are people

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who are more than able
to perform routine tasks.

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Like Todd Newcomb.

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-I was born with cerebral
palsy.

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I have had it all my life

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and I actually can't walk.

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I was born
with this disability and I

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basically have to live

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live with it
for the rest of my life.

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But I do do the best I can.

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♪♪

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Each day

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that I get up
and I go to work, I...

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I look forward to it.

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This job means so much to me.

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And it's it's a dream
come true.

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-You want a banana?

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You want cookies?

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-Sure.

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-Todd lives with his parents
in Federal Way.

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While they help with meals
and laundry,

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Todd is on his own every day:

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completely independent

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and probably one of the most
dedicated employees you'll

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ever meet.

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Six blocks to the bus stop,

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27 miles downtown,

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and 28 floors
up to Seattle City Light.

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♪♪

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If you've received
a notice lately

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about your power service,

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it probably came from Todd's
desk.

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-To be able to go to work
and be able

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to show this company

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what a very hard worker I am.

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-What are you working on
today?

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-And I try to do the best
I can,

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and I plan to work

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as many years
and til I actually retire.

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-As you're filing it,
I just want you to

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double check
that they match up.

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So if you can't read
the claim number,

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if it's either not on there

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or you're having a hard time
deciding what number name

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or the.

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-Name way,
you can't really read it.

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-A central piece

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of the supported employee
program is a job coach.

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Erica

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Gilson is a welcome face
when she drops by the office.

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-We are all on the same page
as a support team to say

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we're working towards
independence

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in the workplace,
making sure that this person

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feels like

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a true part of the team

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and not just a supported
employee, but but truly just

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a coworker and employee
for all of the coworkers.

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-M-I-N-H-T punctuation mark?

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-Great.

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And can we double check

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right here

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to just make sure
one more time

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that we spelled
those correctly?

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When people are working

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independently,
they're they're happy

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at what they're doing.

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And at the end of the day,
it's a rewarding experience

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for the employee
and the employer,

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and that everyone just
feels like it's a good fit.

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-When Khadijah started here,
she was extremely shy,

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so she's warmed up a lot.

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I've seen changes in her
skill set.

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I've seen changes
in her attitude.

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Just being able

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to come in to work
and have this stability.

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-Tariqua?

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-Being able to now
have a new extended family

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has brought upon
change in her life,

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has brought upon change
in her job

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and her
outlook on everything.

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♪♪

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-The city's commitment to its

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supported employee program
starts from the very top.

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-Been here 12 years.
-Yeah? -12 years.

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-So you've been through...
-Three mayors. -Three mayors.

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-You're number three.
-Number three.

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-Krista is a very 
competent employee.

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And so she helps us
make the mayor's office work.

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So it makes the city
of Seattle work.

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She's also probably

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the most popular employee
in the mayor's office.

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So obviously,
she's got a personality

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that adds a lot
to the workplace up here.

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-The inside
joke on the seventh

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floor of City Hall is Krista

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Leimbacher is really the one
who runs things around town.

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Just keeping up with her
is a full time job.

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-Then you have to hold on
to this as you slide over.

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-It makes you grow.

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It makes you think

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as you

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watch other

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people who really want
that opportunity to do what

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all Americans want to do,

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which
is the opportunity to work.

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(laughter)

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-They're considered
the gold standard in terms

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of supported employment
opportunities.

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Some supported employees

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have been hearing
about the possibility

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of a job
like this at the city

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since they were in
high school or middle school.

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I often say,

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you give someone a job,
you give someone a life.

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-Oh, it's totally changed
my life.

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It's a very big challenge
for me,

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but I know
as long as I keep going,

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that challenge
is going to get easier.

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 ♪ ♪

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-Watch CityStream
Thursday nights at 7

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on the Seattle Channel.

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Or get video
on demand and podcast anytime

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at SeattleChannel.org.