Spotlight Story - Jason Harris
Jason Harris working at Special Dogs and More in Downtown Columbus, Indiana.
Meet Jason Harris; a Columbus local, proud self-advocate, and hard worker. He loves meeting new people, hanging out with his friends, and watching his favorite TV show, The Goldbergs. Jason explained that he often feels misunderstood when people do not understand that he gets distracted easily and sometimes needs a little extra time to process information. Jason believes that his friends would describe him as a “kind, caring, and loyal friend”, which he takes great pride in. Jason is also a great example of a passionate and genuine Self-Advocate. He is a Board Member at The Arc of Bartholomew County as well as the Self-Advocates of Tomorrow/Aktion Club of Columbus. When asked why being a Self-Advocate is important to him, Jason explained that he believes in standing up for others who are unable to stand up for themselves and make his voice heard to politicians regarding disability rights and policies.
Jason moved from a group home to his own apartment in November of 2020. Jason recalls the group home being a challenging environment, as he had many responsibilities and had to wake up very early each morning. Thankfully, Jason is now very happy living in his own place! He worked hard for many years to achieve his independence and to have his own home. He explained that he requires little assistance from staff. He had to learn how to cook, clean, and take care of himself to prove to others that he was capable of becoming independent. Jason explained that one of his favorite responsibilities that comes with being independent is cleaning (especially vacuuming) and keeping a tidy space.
Future planning is very important for individuals with disabilities and Jason feels that he has done a good job trying to prepare himself for what’s to come. He explained that gaining independence was very important to him as he “wants to know that he will be okay when his parents are gone”. We asked Jason what he would advise to other Self-Advocates who want to become independent and he explained that it can take time, so it is best to try and be patient. He also suggested that they should set goals for themselves to learn new skills to prove that they can take care of themselves.
Jason works at Special Dogs, located in Columbus, Indiana. He explained that he was a bit nervous for the interview process, but “made it through”. Jason has been employed by the restaurant since 2017 and is still very happy with his position. He is passionate about his work and values creating a happy and welcoming environment at Special Dogs. Some of Jason’s responsibilities include cleaning the dining room, doing dishes, and helping with customer service. He explained that his favorite thing about working is the relationships that he is able to create and foster with the restaurant’s regular customers. Jason expressed that he loves communicating with customers about “what is happening in his life and what is happening in their lives” He feels valued when customers express satisfaction and gratitude in response to his service.
Jason believes that everyone should have opportunities regarding employment and is a great example of a hard-working, responsible employee. He explained that having a job is beneficial as he is able to gain experience, make new friends, and earn extra money. When asked what advice he would give to other Self-Advocates who want to get a job, he explained that they should be patient because the right job will eventually come their way. Jason hopes to retire at the age of 62 as his parents retired at that age and he believes it is a good goal to set for himself.
Jason Harris cleaning tables and filling condiment bottles while working at Special Dogs.
If you want to learn more about The Arc of Bartholomew County and how we help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, visit our about page or send us a message through the contact form!
