Sandy’s Story
by Sandra Jones
My name is Sandra Jones and I was born in Boston. My parents were young teenagers and when they learned I had a lot of medical issues, they felt it was better to let someone else raise me. So I don't have any memory or connection to my birth parents.
I was placed with foster parents in Methuen and stayed with that family until I was 32. Unfortunately my stepdad died when I was 6, but I always felt that my stepmom, Elsie, was my real mother. Over the years Elsie had 56 kids that she took in, but I was lucky to stay with Elsie for as long as I did.
Starting in first grade I attended Methuen Schools and then went to the John T. Berry Center in North Reading. At age 16 I came back to Methuen High School for 4 years and graduated with a certificate.
I have always been a hard worker and someone who likes to be busy. I worked as an assembler at Wang's until they closed. I spent 10 years at
Goodwill in Lowell where I helped sort out donations for their store. I also worked at a local nursing home for a while. When Goodwill closed down, I received a pension which I'm saving for my old age and to help pay for my funeral.
In 1992 there were some difficulties with one of my foster brothers, and Elsie and the Department of Developmental Services helped me find somewhere else to live. That's when I moved to Haverhill with a Shared Living provider named Sandy. Elsie was also getting older so it made sense to leave.
Sandy had a building next to her home where over the next few years several different people lived with me. I started going to a day program in Lawrence and tried out different jobs at Chili's, Domino's Pizza, RNL as a cleaner.
One of my friends, Cathy Semensi, invited me to start attending a Self-Advocacy group in Haverhill in the late nineties. I got to meet a lot of different people and started hearing how I have rights. We held a conference at Northern Essex Community College where the co-chairs from SABE, the national organization, spoke and encouraged us to start a statewide organization.
As part of the local Haverhill group we started going to monthly regional meetings, and I also went to Buffalo, NY for a national conference. I enjoy meeting other self-advocates from around the country and have since gone to national conferences in Indianapolis and Oklahoma City.
At these groups I learned it was OK for me to speak up and not be shy. It's especially hard for me when answers don't make sense and that happens a lot.
I attended the Self Advocacy Leadership Series led by Sandy Houghton. This is a 10 week series where you learn a lot about yourself. Eleanor Sweetman supported me during the series. I really just wanted a job and that has not always gone well.
About 6 years ago, a friend Kate Crowley joined the advisory board for the Arc of Greater Haverhill-Newburyport and invited me to join her. I attend meetings where the agency explains their plans, and we help to make sure they have enough money in the budget. I also help out at all their fundraisers. At first I was nervous to speak up but they said my voice was important. This did wonders for my confidence.
Over the past couple of years I started getting involved in some self-advocacy work groups. One was teaching us how to have more choice and control in how our lives. The other group was about getting our voice listened to at our ISP meetings. I started telling people that I wanted a job and was in a situation where I was going to a program where I often had nothing to do. Also at times others would have work but I was told my contract didn't allow that. That didn't make sense to me. I kept being told by staff that I had a bad attitude and that I wasn't ready for a job. THAT WASN'T RIGHT! When I told other self-advocates about my frustration, they gave me ideas how I could make some changes. One of the ideas was to call a team meeting to let people know how much I wanted to work and to hear about the contract I was in. I was told some "jibber jabber" that made no sense. Even staff present at the meeting couldn't understand my situation.
Another idea other self-advocates gave me is to invite allies or friends to help me explain my point of view. I think sometimes people don't listen to us self-advocates, and the supporters were like my insurance policy.
On my own I found seasonal work as a bell ringer for Salvation Army and I did that during the holiday season for 6 years. My supervisor said I was very reliable and never called in sick. I also worked for a tax firm for one season advertising their services. I had to stand outside in all kinds of weather but I didn't mind as long as I got paid.
About 3 years ago I started working at Vesey Park, a place that holds functions. I do the cleaning up after events and get the site ready for the next event. I am still there 3 days a week and my supervisor says I'm his best employee. He only has to tell me what to do and then is sure it will get done well.
Then last year I started working at the Arc as a self-advocacy mentor. I help with the behind-the-scenes work for self-advocacy meetings and am willing to speak with other people who want to get a job. I try to encourage them like others did for me. I also help out with administrative jobs because, as I said earlier, I like to help and I like to be busy.
I hope my story helps you. NEVER GIVE UP! We are all important and should be able to live our lives the way we want. I'm happy to help anyone who is frustrated.