How an employment journey became a diversified career path

Hannah at the Clothes Mentor; one of her three jobs

Balancing three jobs in your twenties isn't typical for most people, but for Hannah Rahmanpanah, it's a path she initiated early on.

"My employment journey started when I was very young," explained Hannah, a 28-year-old Elm Grove native who also has down syndrome. Her parents own a small business, where she helped since she was a child. In middle school, her parents began giving her more responsibilities.

In Wisconsin, three state agencies are responsible for preparing students like Hannah for success in the workforce. Together, the Department of Health Services (DHS), Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and Department of Workforce Development (DWD) coordinate services that ensure individuals with disabilities have access to competitive integrated employment opportunities.

Competitive integrated employment (CIE) is work in which an individual with a disability is paid no less than the customary rate earned by other employees performing similar work in an environment where they regularly interact with people both with and without disabilities and have access to the same benefits and advancement opportunities as their peers without disabilities.

By the time Hannah was a junior in high school, her school transition coordinator helped her apply for services with DWD's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). One of several transition planning resources provided to students with disabilities through DPI, school transition coordinators help students with disabilities and their families plan for life after high school.

Hannah's DVR counselor worked closely with her and her school transition coordinator to brainstorm ideas. One of those ideas included participation in the Project SEARCH program. Project SEARCH is a national transition-to-work program administered in Wisconsin by DVR in partnership with local school districts and disability service providers. The program provides internship opportunities to young adults with disabilities to learn job skills and explore careers through total immersion in a prominent local business.

During her time as a Project SEARCH intern, Hannah worked rotations within the pharmacy, behavioral health, and gastrointestinal departments at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. Following her graduation from the program, DVR helped Hannah take the next step in her career journey.

"After Project SEARCH, DVR connected me with a job developer who helped me get a job at Pick ‘n’ Save," said Hannah. "DVR provided me with a job coach when I started bagging at Pick 'n' Save, and again when I was transferred to their floral department."

That was six years ago. Today, Hannah continues to work at Pick ‘n’ Save two days per week with ongoing support from the IRIS program, one of several independent living programs for adults with disabilities managed by DHS. IRIS is a self-directed program that allows individuals with disabilities to choose the services that best help them meet their goals.

For the past year, Hannah has also worked at Bank of Flowers. Every Monday, she processes flowers, cuts ribbons, and staples floral boxes at the Menominee Falls florist shop. With natural support and mentorship from her coworkers, Hannah has been able to perform her duties successfully without the need for additional job coaching from DVR.

On Fridays, Hannah works her third job at Clothes Mentor, a resale store in Brookfield. Over the past two years, Hannah has replaced backstock, dressed mannequins, priced clothing, and made promotional videos for the store's Facebook page. DVR's Internship/Temporary Work (I/TW) program, which offers time-limited, paid work experiences for DVR consumers who would like to try out a job and learn new skills, supported Hannah's first 60 days of employment at Clothes Mentor.

"DVR provided me a job developer to help me get the job at Clothes Mentor," said Hannah. "I started there with a DVR I/TW, then Clothes Mentor offered me a permanent job."

During the I/TW at Clothes Mentor, DVR provided Hannah a job coach to help her learn the job. She then transitioned to regular check-ins from a job coach supported by her IRIS plan.

"My job coach check-ins are an important part of my employment success," said Hannah. "They help me solve problems. They talk with my supervisors to assess how things are going at work."

When Hannah isn't balancing her three jobs and her own apartment, she spends free time with family and friends and making bracelets to donate for fundraisers.

"I'd love to sell those bracelets for profit one day, but right now, I am proud to have three jobs," said Hannah. "It helps me feel independent and self-confident. I am also proud that I take the taxi on my own. My mom is my biggest supporter. She encourages me and helps me to look on the bright side when I am having a bad day."

"My goal for the future is to work more hours at the Bank of Flowers, become a floral designer, and eventually own my own business," said Hannah.

Individuals with disabilities who would like to learn more about CIE opportunities can contact DVR toll free at 800-442-3477, via email at dvr@dwd.wisconsin.gov, or learn more at Wisconsin Competitive Integrated Employment: Act 178.

Hannah is one of thousands of individuals across the state who benefit from Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) in Wisconsin – a joint effort of DHS, DPI, and DWD-DVR formalized in 2017 through Wisconsin Act 178.

Project SEARCH was developed in 1996 at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and is now offered at over 600 sites worldwide. Wisconsin's Project SEARCH program began in 2008 with a single site located in Madison and has since expanded to 29 active sites across the state.

Special thanks to the Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin for partnering with Think Ability Wisconsin, Hannah, and her family to share her employment story.