FARMINGTON – Michael Dean placed a wooden skewer in a hole in the top of a cardboard box. Once he had 12 skewers lined up, he picked them out and placed them in a plastic bag.

He ran his hand over the bag to smooth out the sticks before he placed it alongside the others he had packaged. The bottom layer of the case was now full.

The 48-year-old Farmington man picked up more skewers and began the process again.

Dean, who was diagnosed with mild retardation at a very early age, spoke slowly when he said he liked this job and others he does at Work First Inc. and his seasonal work at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

“There are lots of things I like,” he said. “I like doing just about everything.”

The private nonprofit organization was incorporated more than 30 years ago initially as Program Dawn by a group of parents interested in providing options for their adult children with mental retardation after high school. The organization has since changed names twice from Program Dawn to Sandy River Rehabilitation Center Inc. and now Work First Inc., as the program blossomed from serving six individuals to 70 with disabilities and offering many more services from daily life skills to jobs and volunteer options in the community.

Dean has participated in the program since 1979.

Dean’s mother, Jane Dean of Industry, said her son had desired for a long time to live on his own. He now has an apartment in Farmington and his mother stops by to help him do what he needs help with.

Work First has been the answer to a “prayer,” she said.

“We’ve always been very proud of him,” Dean said.

He has worked hard to live on his own.

“It’s a wonderful accomplishment,” she said.

Her son as well as her daughter, Bethany, 39, who still lives at home and works at various jobs including the organization’s thrift shop and boutique, A Touch of Class, have learned to be more responsible, gained self-esteem, have fun with friends and peers, and had opportunities to work.

Work First Executive Director Linda LaRue-Keniston said there are 39 Work First staff who help Michael and others who come to the center on Wilton Road.

In one end of the building, several people in wheelchairs were either eating or learning to do some task with help.

In another part of the building, Michael Dean and others were working. At the opposite end, people worked in a back room to sort, button or hang up donated clothing to be sold at the store. Before the day was over, most workers rotated to another job before they went home.

“Well over half the people have some type of work in the community as well as work here,” LaRue-Keniston said.

They work Monday through Saturday, which helps create a natural rhythm.

All of the consumers need help of some kind depending on their level, LaRue-Keniston said. It could be one-on-one or one-on-eight.

The consumers pay for the services that Work First offers either through state, federal or grant funds, and in return the individuals are paid for what they do at work.

“The whole plan is designed to help with adult living skills,” LaRue-Keniston said.
dperry@sunjournal.com

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