08/29/2026
This… 💯% is why I believe Columbia will continue to move faster than Charleston when it comes to assisting and employing young adults with intellectual disabilities.
I am a native of Columbia, although I have now lived in Charleston for nearly 30 years. Throughout those years, I have consistently advocated for and worked to create employment opportunities for our young adults with intellectual disabilities.
There were countless times when I would cold-call businesses and organizations, offering my time and services free of charge, only to be met with a “no.” Honestly, it was incredibly disheartening. I knew there was a need, and I knew these young adults had so much to offer, but finding employers willing to take that first step was—and continues to be—a challenge.
In 2012, I started my own practice and devoted much of my work to supporting individuals with employment and transition needs. Over time, however, I began to experience burnout. By last year, I had reached a point where I was taking on perhaps one case at a time and had to reassess where I could make the greatest impact.
I shifted my focus back to areas where I could provide meaningful support while maintaining a healthier balance—executive functioning, academic skills, transition skills, and soft/social skills. It has been a much less stressful and more sustainable path.
Charleston is an incredible tourism city that offers so much to so many people. My hope is simply that we can continue to expand that inclusivity into our workforce and create more opportunities in everyday, community-based places for young adults with intellectual disabilities.
They deserve the opportunity to contribute, to be valued, and to be part of the communities they call home. And our communities are better when they are. ❤️
