A Maryland nonprofit aims to help those with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of life.At Brick Bodies, Tim Nelson is wiping down a treadmill as it’s part of his duties at the fitness center where he has been working since February.”I clean up the equipment, and also, I clean up the lockers,” Nelson said.Tim is a client of Penn-Mar Human Services, a nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of services for people with intellectual disabilities in Maryland and Pennsylvania — everything from help with housing to, in Tim’s case, employment.”My job is to help them find a job that works for them and also helps the employer. Penn-Mar is a great resource for employers. We have a motivated workforce that’s willing and ready to go,” said Jason Smith, a job developer at Penn-Mar.Penn-Mar also provides follow-up support to make sure clients are successful.”For example, Tim is wiping equipment. What if that doesn’t work for him anymore? We go in, we look at the surroundings to find different tasks that he can do,” said Marion Dyke, employment supports coordinator for Penn-Mar.Penn-Mar also only works with companies that don’t use a 14-C certificate, which is a federal labor law that allows businesses to pay employees with intellectual disabilities below minimum wage. In a world that is short-staffed, Nelson’s supervisor is happy to have him.”He’s here for four hours Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and pretty much during (those) four hours, he’s working his tail off, making people’s day,” said Ryan Busick, Nelson’s supervisor.”I like working at Brick Bodies,” Nelson said.For more information on the program at Penn-Mar, visit the following website.Watch the video above for the full story.
A Maryland nonprofit aims to help those with intellectual disabilities in all aspects of life.
At Brick Bodies, Tim Nelson is wiping down a treadmill as it’s part of his duties at the fitness center where he has been working since February.
“I clean up the equipment, and also, I clean up the lockers,” Nelson said.
Tim is a client of Penn-Mar Human Services, a nonprofit organization that provides a wide range of services for people with intellectual disabilities in Maryland and Pennsylvania — everything from help with housing to, in Tim’s case, employment.
“My job is to help them find a job that works for them and also helps the employer. Penn-Mar is a great resource for employers. We have a motivated workforce that’s willing and ready to go,” said Jason Smith, a job developer at Penn-Mar.
Penn-Mar also provides follow-up support to make sure clients are successful.
“For example, Tim is wiping equipment. What if that doesn’t work for him anymore? We go in, we look at the surroundings to find different tasks that he can do,” said Marion Dyke, employment supports coordinator for Penn-Mar.
Penn-Mar also only works with companies that don’t use a 14-C certificate, which is a federal labor law that allows businesses to pay employees with intellectual disabilities below minimum wage. In a world that is short-staffed, Nelson’s supervisor is happy to have him.
“He’s here for four hours Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and pretty much during (those) four hours, he’s working his tail off, making people’s day,” said Ryan Busick, Nelson’s supervisor.
“I like working at Brick Bodies,” Nelson said.
For more information on the program at Penn-Mar, visit the following website.
Watch the video above for the full story.
