Caterina, or Cat as her friends call her, has received services from Work Opportunities Unlimited (WOU) since January of 2023. WOU first supported Cat while she completed a vet tech program at Holyoke Community College and its required 70-hour externship. She finished her program near the end of 2023, and joined the team at Pet Hotel Hadley in January of 2024, where she recently celebrated one year of successful employment!
Career Resource Specialist Jessica Wetherby currently supports Cat on the job at Pet Hotel Hadley in Hadley, MA, a 6,500 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility offering high-end boarding, daycare, and grooming services for both dogs and cats. Each shift, Cat spends quality time with the dogs and helps keep the facility clean. She runs play groups for big dogs and small breeds, and also conducts private play sessions with dogs that prefer one-on-one time with caretakers. She picks up after the dogs, takes out the trash, sprays down play structures twice a day, and mops the floors. Even though it’s hard work, Cat feels that it’s the right career field for her because the unconditional love from the dogs is therapeutic. Jessica shares, “She’s shared that with her mental health diagnoses, she could be having a tough day but then she comes in and she gets to snuggle and hang out with the dogs. One is especially attached to Cat, and when the dog sees her, the dog is so excited and will lay all over her. Both the job and the environment are the perfect fit for her.”
Caterina on the job at Pet Hotel Hadley
Even though Jessica has only worked with Cat for about 6 months, she remarks, “I have seen such growth from her in that time.” At first, Cat was hesitant to learn and take on new tasks, so she needed full support during her shifts. Jessica explains, “It wasn’t that she couldn’t do the work, but more that she thought she couldn’t.” Now, Jessica will briefly check in with Cat and support her through any challenges she is experiencing. For example, she may help Cat implement strategies to remember to clock in, or assist her with processing her feelings if Cat perceives feedback as her manager or coworkers as being upset with her. Jessica joins Cat for lunch on her workdays and provides transportation for her on Thursdays. She’s pleased with Cat’s progress, sharing, “Cat works 8 hours a week. When I first started with Cat, we were spending up to 10 hours a week with her, between providing transportation and being with her the whole time that she was at work. Now we are down to about half of that – around 5 hours a week.”
The remarkable decrease in her needed support from WOU is due in large part to Cat’s comfort utilizing her natural supports, including her manager Dom and her helpful coworkers. Jessica says, “Dom is amazing. He really takes the time to get to know his employees on a personal level, working side by side with them, to learn how they receive information so he can communicate with them effectively. I wish all of my clients could have a manager like him because he is just so understanding.” Dom marks important milestones for his team, like remembering cupcakes on Cat’s birthday and buying lunch in honor of her employment anniversary. In addition, shares Jessica, “Cat is really good at advocating for herself if she needs anything at work. Sometimes she doesn’t know how to say it, so she might bounce that off of me, but once we talk it out, she’s spot on with it. She and Dom work really well together. Dom thinks Cat is doing a fantastic job, and she is a huge asset to her team.”
Cat is doing so well at work that she plans to slowly increase her hours over time, save her money, and eventually move out of her parents’ home. Jessica also helped Cat fill out paperwork for paratransit; if she qualifies for the service, she’ll be able to get herself to and from work independently as well. “I think independence is her big goal that this job is helping with right now,” says Jessica. “Cat has said that in her past, she has felt limited by people who say she can’t do this, or she can’t handle that. The Pet Hotel Hadley has been the opposite for her. They are really encouraging her to be more independent and to do things on her own and believe she is capable of doing these things. She is on a good path, putting in effort to apply feedback, and gaining the independent skills and confidence in herself. There are days that she’ll say, ‘I did a really great job today, I was excellent,’ and I’ll say, “You’re right, you did do a really good job today!” Jessica says proudly.
WOU is dedicated to helping its clients be successful in the workplace every day. With Jessica’s support, Cat has achieved amazing personal and professional growth and is thriving at a job that she loves. The future is bright for you, Cat! Congratulations!
