Notre Dame students, from left to right, Marcella Chavez, Emanuel Deslarzes, Alicia Castillo and Chrissie Allison stand in front of one of the school vans that takes them to their vocational school jobs. JENNA TETER/The Texas Catholic
By Cathy Harasta
The Texas Catholic Staff
From where Donyele Carter stood, Dallas appeared to work like a dream.
The sun-dusted cityscapes she viewed from an office tower’s 37th floor on a recent morning gave her a new perspective and feeling that nothing seemed impossible, she said.
It was another day at the office, but far from a humdrum experience for Carter, who is one of 44 students in the Notre Dame School of Dallas’ Vocational Center program for young adults with developmental disabilities.
The program received a boost when The Catholic Foundation awarded the school $35,000 to buy a new van to bring Notre Dame’s fleet to seven. The grant came during the foundation’s Nov. 22 ceremony to present more than $869,000 to 18 Dallas-area organizations.
Since 1973, the vocational program has provided training in a variety of workplaces for students from 18 into their early 20s. The off-campus jobs range from document-shredding to setting up nursing homes’ dining rooms.
Carter’s smile never faded as she went about her job at Dean Foods’ corporate offices in The Tower At Cityplace. She applied herself to tidying the conference rooms and scouring the white boards in meeting areas.
But the skyscraper’s aura of boundless potential might have taught her more than her tasks. Carter looked out on landmarks, new construction and busy freeways—all emblems of the working world.
“It’s gorgeous up here,” she said, pointing at the panorama beyond the window. “You can see so far.”
Aaron Bryant, also a Notre Dame student, grinned as he boarded a van at the school at 9:15 a.m. And he flashed a smile at everyone who passed as he restocked coffee supplies at Dean Foods.
“I love my work,” he said with conviction. “I’m busy. I do a good job. I have a good job.”
Carmen Fernandez, Notre Dame’s Upper School Coordinator and Vocation Center overseer, said that the program produces a win-win for students and employers. She said that Notre Dame is grateful for its community support.
Fernandez said that she learns of potential employers from Notre Dame board members, parents and volunteers.
She said that most of the program’s jobs are unpaid, but when a student with one of the paying jobs gets that first paycheck, the whole school rejoices. Some unpaid jobs lead to paying jobs, she said.
“Our students are doing real jobs and important jobs,” Fernandez said. “They are happy to do repetitive jobs that might be boring to some people.”
Austin High, who works at Ruibal’s Plants of Texas, said that he never will forget what it felt like to receive his first paycheck.
“It was cool,” he said. “At work, I move the plants, water them and do a lot.”
Owner Linda Ruibal, whose company has participated in Notre Dame’s program for more than 20 years, said the student-workers have heightened her employees’ understanding of special needs.
“It exposes both [groups] to more of the world,” said Ruibal, who grew interested in the program when her daughter was a Notre Dame student. “The students are always delightful. Our customers seem to appreciate them.”
Her company hired a Notre Dame graduate to work fulltime, as did Dean Foods–Jeremy Criswell.
“Jeremy is part of the corporate culture now and a shining example of the program’s success,” said Jamaison Schuler, Dean Foods’ Senior Manager of Corporate Communications. “Just seeing the students in action is a visual reminder of how it takes everyone to make the machine run.”
The Notre Dame students who work at the Strasburger & Price law firm restock supplies, sort office materials and participate in special events, said Tina Grantham, the firm’s human resources manager.
“Having them here really helps us,” Grantham said. “We feel like we’ve provided them with a good work setting, and that’s rewarding for us.”
Notre Dame teacher Anita Bagnall, who accompanies the students to Dean Foods, said that her students amplify the concept of the dignity of work.
She said that the business setting offers the students chances to learn specific skills and to become familiar with workplace expectations.
“I watch them grow with the feeling of acceptance that they get,” she said. “They light up my life.”
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