SUBMITTED BY THE Logan County BOARD OF DD
Celebrated in October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) serves as a reminder of the ongoing effort to ensure that individuals with disabilities are afforded access to rewarding job opportunities all year round.
This week, the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities would like to spotlight Sara Stierhoff, a hard-working and dedicated local employee and volunteer.
Sara lives a full life filled with many responsibilities and experiences. She volunteers for her alma mater, Benjamin Logan Schools, and is an exceptional athlete for the Logan County Braves.
In addition, she is also a hard-working and valued employee for Firehouse Pizza and Subs in Zanesfield.
When the Homecoming Restaurant closed in November of 2023, Sara lost her job. During a family dinner at Firehouse Pizza and Subs, the topic of her upcoming job search came up. Amber Eirich, owner of Firehouse Pizza and Subs, heard them talking and offered Sara a job on the spot.
Amber, who had been an aide in Sara’s classroom when she was in school, trained Sara and helped her to become comfortable with different jobs at the restaurant.
Sara has several job responsibilities that include making pizzas, greeting customers, cleaning the tables, filling drinks and helping her co-workers when they need an extra hand.
Because of the specialized training that Sara received for her job, she does not need job follow-along supports. Recently, the LCBDD sponsored Sara to attend the Synergy Conference in Ohio to promote her determination and devotion to developing her advocacy skills.
Sara said her favorite things about her job include the owner, Amber, her co-workers, all the friendly patrons, the Macaroni and Cheese Pizza, and the fact that she is learning so many different job duties.
“I like working at Firehouse Pizza and Subs, I’m never bored there, and my co-workers are fun. I love it when people come in and say, ‘Hi,’ to me and know my name,” said Stierhoff.
Employers who hire people with developmental disabilities are often amazed by the quality work ethic and loyalty they find in their new hire.
The LCBDD offers support to people at various stages in their career paths. While some individuals aim to independently secure employment, others seek assistance in both finding and retaining a job. There are also those who may not be ready for employment due to various reasons but are in the process of preparing for it.
Gaining soft and hard employment skills can take time to learn. To assist in learning those skills, LCBDD contracts with agency providers who offer employment services to people with developmental disabilities. Clients of LCBDD can choose from a variety of services at these agencies that best meets their needs.
Individuals collaborate with their SSA to utilize services provided by A Way Out Employment Services, Active Day, Breton Technology and Vocational Support, Capabilities, Downsize Farms, Friends of Leroy Brown and RTC Services in Logan County. These provider agencies have shown employers that employees with developmental disabilities often remain in their jobs longer than the typical 2.8 years for similar roles throughout Ohio.
If you would like more information about hiring someone or employment services, contact our offices at (937) 592-0015.