The life skills a teenager learns at their first job are paramount for transitioning from “kid” to contributing member of society. There’s only so much knowledge that mom, dad, and their teachers can instill in them, and experience eventually has to take the lead in the “lessons learned" department. The good, the bad, and the ugly of a first job experience is priceless. 

For young adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities, there are some pretty big hurdles they must jump over to even get a chance at this first job experience, as many other teenagers do. Thankfully two Robertson County businesses are trying to help. 

Shine Pediatric Therapy and Historic Perk have teamed up to form a workforce solutions program for older teens that need a little extra help landing and succeeding at their first job. 

The idea sparked when Erin Cobb, Occupational Therapist and CEO of Shine started thinking of ways she could continue to help the kids who would soon be transitioning out of their program. 

“At Shine, our mission is to be IN these families, anything we can do to improve their lives, that’s what we are going to do, “ said Erin. “We started with most of these teenagers at a young age, and they are close to transitioning (out of the program), and I started thinking that we need to start working on skills they need to be ready to be an adult.” 

A big part of being an adult is having a job, as we know.

Erin approached Amy Freeman and Tamara Batson at Historic Perk with the idea to provide internships to Shine patients where they could learn the ins and outs of daily operations and what it means to be a good employee. They loved the idea, and thus, the program was born.

The first program participant, 19-year old Zee, kicked off her venture as a barista last week after going through the traditional application and interview process under the guidance of a Shine Therapist. 

“I think I’m going to get more out of it than Zee is,” said Amy Freeman, Manager at Historic Perk. 

Each week Amy will give constructive feedback on Zee’s work performance, which will be the focus of her next therapy session with Shine. 

“There’s only so far we can take them in a manufactured setting that is controlled with no distractions or extra stressors,” said Erin. “This program allows them to take what they are learning to the next level.” 

Zee, Amy, and the Shine therapists have set a goal for Zee to make a latte without assistance by the end of their 6-week program, and it sounds like she’s well on her way to success. 

“She did better at her first shift than some of my other staff members have done,” Amy laughed. Zee had arrived 20 minutes early for her first day. 

The larger goal for Erin and the other therapists with Shine is to continue to develop this program to include partnerships with other local businesses. They are only set up to have one participant in the program for each six week session, so additional work opportunities would mean more kids learning more life skills. 

If you are interested in partnering with Shine Pediatric Therapy to provide a work opportunity, please reach out to Erin at 615-382-0500.