Summit Stories Library
Ryan Maly loves to help others, which is one reason he loves to work. By 2008, he was no stranger to the workforce, having worked since graduating high school at numerous restaurants: KFC, Pizza Hut, Noodles & Company. His job at Chili’s, where he had many friends, was one of his favorites—but then came the Great Recession, and Ryan lost his job. Days of unemployment turned into weeks, then months, then more than a year.
“That was hard for me,” said Ryan, who has a disability and has long been a part of The Arc-JCC&GC’s community. His mother, Susan Dahl, remembers how Ryan began to grow unfulfilled and depressed as, despite his work experience, his season of unemployment wore on.
“He'd been unemployed for 18 months after 2008,” Susan said. “Nobody was hiring.”
But everything turned around when Ryan got the opportunity to show another employer all the contributions he could make and all the additional skills he could learn.
Bringing Much-Needed Skills to Work: Joan’s Story
At a Natural Grocers in Colorado, someone with the right qualities is needed to help the store thrive. The store needs someone helpful to assist with special projects. It needs someone hardworking to help customers carry groceries to their car. And it needs someone who speaks multiple languages so customers do not face communication barriers.
Long-time employee Joan Jurann is the perfect fit.
Each workday starts the same for Joan – she arrives, puts her purse away, puts on her apron, and checks in. But after that, each day can look a little bit different, with Joan ready to help with a variety of tasks.
Empowered to Choose Life-Saving Care: Elizabeth’s Story
Elizabeth’s health had taken a turn.
The Colorado woman, who was born with disabilities, had been working toward her goal of living independently. But leading up to the spring of 2024, Elizabeth faced medical complications that forced her to move out of an assisted living facility and into a nursing home.
Further, serious complications with Elizabeth’s blood pressure and breathing changed everything once again. One day, Elizabeth stopped breathing completely. After receiving CPR, she found herself lying in a hospital room, feeling alone, only able to breathe through the use of a ventilator.
Elizabeth looked up at the medical team treating her. She told them, “I don’t want to live anymore.”
Plans were soon made to take Elizabeth off of ventilator support, which would end her life. However, Elizabeth realized she wasn’t sure what she truly wanted—and she felt unclear about what other options, if any, were available to her.
