Sydney is a biomedical student, who has a goal of working in forensics. They have Ehlers-Danos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, which affects their muscles, joints, skin, and organs, causing pain and difficulty with walking and fine motor skills. Sydney has a service dog that accompanies them.

Needing help finding work while they study, Sydney joined our Creative Employment Options program.

“I was no longer able to pay my bills,” they share. “I was kind of really desperate for a job and needed some support in finding one that was willing to work with me and the accommodations I need.”

Sydney began working with our team on re-writing their resume. They particularly appreciated the support they received from their Job Developer throughout the job search process.

“The staff were super supportive,” they explain. “Receiving the weekly emails about the different positions and then just positions that fit what I needed, that [they] recommended, really helped me kind of narrow down my applications and really be able to put more into my applications versus mass apply[ing].”

After about two months in Creative Employment Options, Sydney’s hard work paid off when they landed a role as an administrative assistant for a non-profit organization that provides funding for artists with disabilities.

“I have actually been really enjoying the job,” they share. “I feel like it fits well with my personality as well as what I believe in. I also find it’s really nice to be able to support other people with disabilities in the way that Neil Squire supported me with my disability. So, it’s been very fulfilling, and it’s been a lot of fun to go see different events that we’re putting on and different galleries and just exploring.”

Sydney says the Creative Employment Options program has “greatly” impacted their life, allowing them to find a great job that they can balance with their studies.

“I mean it’s the reason I can pay my bills this month. And it’s keeping me afloat from having to rely on other people for my basic necessities. I’d also say it really helped because I didn’t feel like the odd one out,” they say.

“I would recommend [Creative Employment Options] to other people with disabilities. It just creates a space to feel more open and you have a bit more community with it. And you’re able to talk to people who are used to working with similar people. It’s nice to be able to get that support from people who know what they’re doing and what they’re talking about.”