A Challenged Worker: For Sarah Hoxie, Paperworks Offers a Fulfilling Career

March 16, 2005

Sarah Hoxie, age 27, is one of 20 part-time employees at Paperworks Studio in Traverse City. All of these Paperworkers have one thing in common: their disabilities.
Paperworkers face employment challenges that require assistance tailored to their needs. Sarah is cognitively impaired with Downs Syndrome, and requires some accomodations in the workplace. What Paperworks Studio offers her is a chance to have a fulfilling career.
“I am making my own money. I’m making nice looking stuff and that’s fun,” Sarah said.
Paperworks Studio is unique in its employment of people with barriers to other jobs because it produces creative products, including wedding invitations, greeting cards, bookmarks, magnets, and more.
Each item is handmade and job duties are simplified to allow the employees to have involvement in each part of the manufacturing process. The studio mixes flowers with handmade paper, as well as using a marblization technique. Employees get to work at all job duties they are capable of performing.

SELF-WORTH
Not only are these adults gainfully employed, but they feel a positive sense of self-worth in what they do. Many disabled adults involved in Paperworks Studio enjoy working, and tend to give their all to every workday. Sarah is no exception. “I love working-it is great,” she says.
She regards herself as a successful working woman, and exudes that self-confidence in her conversation.
While her impairment is something she is well aware of, Sarah, like some of her peers, does not truthfully consider it a disability, although she utilizes the term. “I’m fine with my disability. So are my friends that I work with.”
Despite the extremes of many of the impairments her peers deal with, they do not see them as preventives to their ability to work. As Hoxie said, “Some people are working, and their disabilities are there while they’re working. That’s okay.”
When asked if she had experienced conflicts because of her cognitive impairment, she said, “I’ve never had anyone give me a hard time about it.” She also knows that having Downs Syndrome isn’t her only distinctive characteristic. “I’m nice, I’m outgoing, and I’m a sweetheart.”
The jobs she holds contribute to her active involvement in the community, and typically the people she encounters are sensitive to her needs. Sarah’s work at Paperworks Studio and Great Wolf Lodge show her confidence in her abilities, and she maintains her pleasure in hard work. “I work a five-day work week. I’ll still be working here when I’m older,” she said.

LIFELONG FRIENDS
Sarah also enjoys the fringe benefits of Paperworks Studio. Her co-workers are her peers. Some of them have grown up with Sarah, participating in the same programs. Others have been her mentors and teachers in the past. “I like hanging out with friends, and doing my job,” said Sarah.
Recruitment for Paperworks Studio is open to any who wish to apply, yet the majority of their staff has been involved in Michigan Rehabilitation Services, in addition to the Paperworks student training facility at Traverse Bay Intermediate School District (TBAISD). Roughly 50 percent of their disabled employees have a cognitive impairment, while the other half is divided between physical or emotional impairment.
Paperworks Studio is not to be confused with Paperworks, the student training facility located at TBAISD. This is a program which trains youths with barriers to employment in job-related skills. Many of the originators of Paperworks have involved themselves in the creation of Paperworks Studio. Though Paperworks Studio is an independent business, some of the contract work will be sent to Paperworks for student experience. Despite the fact that less than 40 percent of the employees of Paperworks Studio come directly from Paperworks student training, those that go through the program at TBAISD often find work in the area before and after graduation.

WORKING TWO JOBS
Sarah works two jobs; she is also employed at Great Wolf Lodge. “I’m doing laundry there, at the Great Wolf Lodge,” she stated proudly.
Her job opportunity there is the result of a network between area businesses and TBAISD.
“What Great Wolf Lodge and other businesses appreciate about Sarah and other employees, is that programs such as TBAISD are trying to make those people successful from a business owner’s standpoint,” said Mimi Spaulding, the acting program director of Paperworks Studio. Spaulding also works full time as a vocational coordinator through TBAISD.
Part of the difficulties in hiring a challenged worker lies in a business owner’s expectations of production.
“Sometimes employers just need to think more creatively in order to hire a disabled worker. Keep in mind the reality of production levels, etcetera. It needs to be kept smaller. Simple ideas such as ‘piecing out’ larger jobs can create greater opportunities for certain types of employees,” said Spaulding.
“Paperworks Studio can be considered a great model program for anyone with a product that can be accessed, and broken down into smaller components that our trainees can do.”

HELP WANTED
Businesses that express interest in employing challenged individuals can contact state or voluntary training programs, and find a staff willing to help with job implementation and transition. Spaulding herself welcomes all inquiries. “It’s all about allowing them to be able to realize their potential - and we at Paperworks Studio provide them the ability to tap into it.”
“Anyone can open a paper-making business. Paperworks is successful because of the love behind it, the mission. We are trying to create jobs for people who cannot work just any job. We try to stand alone on the quality of the product, but there is a heart behind it too,” said Spaulding.
Other benefits include utilizing recycled paper which is collected by TBAISD students. This represents an estimated collection of 30,000 pounds of paper per year. In addition, whatever is not used in the paper making process is turned into mulch, farm animal bedding, or other uses.
The original idea for Paperworks came 14 years ago from teacher Tim Coffey. His class was in charge of collecting recycled paper, and Coffey wanted them to be more than just “garbage collectors.” He decided to find a way his students could achieve job training while creating something beautiful. His idea evolved from a very basic papermaking technique using simple tools, to the manufacturing facility TBAISD has today. The vision for Paperworks Studio came about years later, with Coffey as an advisor. He continues to be a full-time teacher in addition to other roles.

LOOKING AHEAD
Sarah looks forward to her continued employment, and will likely find herself an active participant in the changes of the future. Reflecting on her past, Sarah said, “Special Ed means I can do sports and work, and do all kinds of things.” When asked about her own experiences in employment, Sarah agreed with Spaulding about having pride. “(Having a career means) I have co-op jobs. Every day I go to Paperworks and Great Wolf Lodge, and I work.” Her attitude is one any employer would love to see in their employees.