Lifehouse Residents at Work is an ongoing series exploring the people we support at their places of work and how they got to where they are today.
Jeanna Eriksen, Lifehouse Resident
Q: WHERE DO YOU WORK?
A: I have been working for the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities for the past three years.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT POSITION?
A: I currently work on the SAC Committee (Sacramento Advisory Committee), which is a regional committee of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities. I do advocacy work for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR STRONGEST SKILL THAT YOU BRING TO THE WORK PLACE?
A: I am motivated, tenacious, and I get things done.
Q: WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?
A: Tackling challenges and making change happen.
Q: WHAT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN FINDING A JOB?
A: People not believing in me.
Q: HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR CURRENT POSITION?
A: I started with Area Board 4, the Sonoma regional office of the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities, back in 2009. I was asked to be on a local committee and I did that for five years. Then in 2017, the opportunity came up for me to be on the SAC committee. I applied and got the job!
Q: WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?
A: I recently became the Chairman of the SAC committee.
Q: HAS LIFEHOUSE BEEN HELPFUL IN REACHING YOUR CAREER GOALS?
A: Lifehouse empowers me in my role as an advocate. They provide me with the staffing needed for personal care, transportation, and assistance with resources.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO OTHERS ABOUT HIRING INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES?
A: We have had conversations about this in the council. I would encourage them to hire us because we are very dependable and reliable. We show up on time and we do the job well. People with developmental disabilities are just as equal and beautiful as those without disabilities and work just as hard.
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