Ani 

         Ani graduated from a major mid-western university with a degree in psychology. She has 13 years of experience working with developmentally disabled adults in both the group home and independent community settings. She created the independent community program for her company, after doing direct care for 3 years. During her 8 years as a supervisor, she managed 10 full time and 18 part time staff who are responsible for supporting and assisting 34 people. These people reside in individual apartments located throughout the community. Ani was given the title "director" and the code name "the queen." She had 2 supervisors to buffer her from direct care. At this point, she herself became disabled in that she lost her passion, found an abundance of frustration, and re-claimed her life only by designing her own organization. It is the implementation of this dream that is her current mission.

      Amelia 

          Amelia paid for her college education by working part time in a group home and later for Ani. Upon completing college, she bummed around Europe for a few months, eventually heeding the call to return. Although she has a degree in political science, Amelia couldn't resist the siren song of working with developmentally disabled people. Six years of direct care supporting people living independently in their own apartment flew by, and Amelia loved every minute of it. Amelia particularly embraced "person-centered planning". Ani drafted her into the supervisory ranks, and she is the best supervisor of direct care staff on this planet.

     Juliet

         Juliet happened into this field because Ani recruited her. A former math teacher with a masters in management, she seemed an unlikely choice. She had no experience working with people with disabilities, but she was game for a new adventure. She does direct care and is the primary staff for 5 people. She has more than three years of experience now, much of it spent looking for technology to enable people to gain independence in more areas of their life.

     Leah

         Leah works the group home circuit. She's been around, but mostly she's worked at a four person house. She is wrestling with the really tough issues - having a new college graduate with no experience named her supervisor; dealing with co-workers who are allowed to refuse to do "personal care;" and going three rounds with reporting negligence and abuse. Leah totally understands getting down and dirty.

     Jesse

         Jesse started at a group home doing direct care. Because of her even temperament and allegiance to "people first" language, she quickly rose in the ranks. Positions she has held include service coordinator, corporate trainer, and supervisor. Twice she was "employee of the year," which still garnered her no respect from upper management. 

Our Advisors

Anja: a Florida  hospital pharmacist

Doug: a Tennessee physician

Michael:  a Dakota  psychologist

Scott: a retail pharmacist

Murph: an Iowa counselor