Translating Special Olympics Skills into Workplace Success - Meet the Didlake Team

By Renee Dease, Healthy Athlete Outreach Coordinator and Special Olympics Athlete

Success can mean so many things – like achieving your goals in life, feeling great about it and living healthy lifestyles. The six employees of the Didlake Opal Business Center who have intellectual disabilities know this kind of success very well – they live it every day. I met Alex, Shannon, Alfreda, Irvin, Clarence, and Jamarr last summer and talked to them about their jobs and experiences with Special Olympics. I also met Bernie Carpenter, Project Manager and Trepin Tate, Program Manager.

For more than 40 years, Didlake has been a provider of contract and rehabilitative services designed to support and improve the lives of people with disabilities. Didlake provides resources for people with disabilities living in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC area and training in preparation for entering the workforce. The organization works with Special Olympics Healthy Athletes to store equipment and publications.

The story of the athletes at Didlake is a story of courage, determination and healthy lifestyles. As I interviewed this wonderful team, I could not help but feel the energy and realize that they bring the same remarkable drive to their day-to-day responsibilities on the job at Didlake as they bring to their participation in Special Olympics and the Healthy Athlete activities.

I was very impressed during my interview with them for their success in training for life. There were several things they had in common including a great willingness to learn new things, the desire to do their best, and the idea that whatever they do at work or in life should be fun. They set a great example for people with intellectual disabilities who work and live healthy, active lifestyles and for the similarities between work and sportsmanship.

Clarence Campbell has been working at Didlake since 1998. He has had numerous amounts of responsibilities, and supervisors describe Clarence as a very capable and efficient employee.Clarence shared that he is proud of himself and what he has accomplished and stated that working has helped him to live on his own in the community and to be more independent. When asked what advice he would give to other people with intellectual disabilities to succeed on the job, he replied, “Try to learn new things. Learn as many different jobs as you can.” Clarence has won gold medals for his participation in Special Olympics and says it helps keep him healthy. “I get a lot of exercise when I go to Special Olympics and when we practice it makes me feel good when I am moving around,” he said.

Jamarr Thornley has two jobs, working at I-Hop and Didlake. “Didlake helps me to work at I-Hop and get along with new people when I meet them,” he said. He has competed in Special Olympics basketball, track and field and softball, and has received screenings in the Healthy Athletes Opening Eyes program as well. In response to being asked about having two jobs, Jamarr said, “I like to stay busy and I want to make extra money so I can do different things I like.” Despite being so busy, Jamarr shared with me how much he enjoys Special Olympics and said he wants to participate every year. 

Alex Davis has been working at Didlake for more than ten years. Some of Alex’s responsibilities include upholstering of chairs, working in the mail room and packing of goodie bags in preparations for Healthy Athlete events. “I like doing the Special Olympics Goody Bag orders at Didlake, because I get to see the reaction of people when they open the bags. Then I get to explain to people that our team made the bags at our job,” he said. In addition, Alex is on a Special Olympics basketball team, does track and field-long jump and the 100 and 50 meter race where he competes regional and locally for Special Olympics - Virginia, he has also participated in the Opening Eyes and Special Smiles programs. Alex said he likes to travel to all of the different places where Special Olympics take place. He especially enjoys competing in the tournaments and races and the time he spends with friends at the practices and competitions.

Shannon Jackson has been working at Didlake for almost 10 years, and she has assisted staff members and coaches during Special Olympics events. She participates in Special Olympics regional activities in Richmond, VA and has been involved in Special Smiles and Healthy Hearing programs. “Special Olympics is healthy for you and it’s good exercise too," she said. "It gives me something fun to do with my friends and allows for me to travel to different places.”

Alfreda Richards participates in the long-jump, softball and basketball. Alfreda is involved in the Opening Eyes as well as the Healthy Hearing program. At Didlake, Alfreda’s responsibilities include upholstering of chairs, working in the mail room, packaging mail articles, and performing arts and crafts project. Alfreda was also featured in the 2006 February edition of Washington Woman’s Magazine for her amazing chair caning work. “It felt good to be in the magazine," she said. "I work hard on the chairs and I like doing the work.” Alfreda said both Special Olympics and Didlake taught her to interact with different people more effectively and give her opportunities she would not have otherwise. “I get to go different places and see different people,” she said.

Irvin Gray has two jobs, working at Food Lion and Didlake. Irvin’s responsibilities at Didlake include packing goodie bags, and he has been involved in Special Olympics events. “Didlake has helped me learn. That’s why I can work at Food Lion too. Didlake helped train me for this,” he said. “I have fun while I am work. I like to talk to the friends I have there. I like Special Olympics too; it’s all about having fun.”