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“I like taking care of the animals very much. It’s much better than being a janitor,” said a shaky, sincere, voice.
Steven Clyde is a beneficiary from a pilot program put into place to help people with disabilities find and maintain jobs. The individuals are provided job coaches and opportunities, as employers are found and encouraged to hire them.
Clyde was a part of a waiting list of individuals hoping to participate in this program. He moved up past the waiting list, and now works taking care of dogs for the Silver Paw Lodge located in Draper. Clyde has worked there since March of 2007 and takes two busses and the tracks to get there said Rhonda Jenkins, the owner of the Silver Paw Lodge.
“He’s a great, reliable employee,” said Jenkins. “He goes to great lengths to get here and is very dedicated. He has a real desire.”
Jenkins said she supports the program, and would encourage other employees to participate based on the jobs they have available that would suit the program.
“With the job coach, (employers) have the guarantee that the job will be done,” s Kris Fawson, who is a member of the legislative coalition for people with disabilities, told the committee.
Fawson, who has a son with Downs Syndrome, said that her son never did have to go on the waiting list and was never on Medicaid. He works as a teaching assistant and now has his own insurance coverage.
“But not everyone is nearly as fortunate as we have been,” Fawson said. “Many need that added support and training to make them ready for jobs.”
Since the list was formed in the 1980’s, 142 individuals with disabilities have been taken off of the original waiting list and 70 of those people are already working. Thirteen of them are entirely though the process, with little or no support from the program said Dr. David Sundwall of the Utah Department of Health.
Fawson added that this program has helped many families and given hope to many individuals by providing the individuals something to do during the day, cutting down or eliminating the need for some hospice care.
“When someone can work, it gives them hope,” said Senator John Dougall R-Highland.
The program has hopes of helping individuals “work their way out” of Medicaid, said Sundwall.
The bill posed to the committee to approve a new budget of $2.2 million, and would cover about 25% of the list said Joyce Dolcourt, of the Arc of Utah. The list currently contains 1,654 individuals.
“This funding request won’t make much of a dent in the pressure these families feel,” Dolcourt said, “but we’re always grateful for whatever the legislature provides.”
The list is compiled with the most critical individuals served first, Dolcourt said. The needs of the individuals are based on a needs assessment.

The bill was passed unanimously by the House of Representative Health and Human Services committee on Friday.

H.B. 45 Supported Employment Services to a Person with a Disability
Chief Sponsor: Ronda Rudd Menlove R-Garland
(The bill provides additional funding to the pilot program providing support for people with disabilities for employment.)