Client Testimonials
"For Michael, the employment opportunities presented to him have been amazing on so many levels. The sense of pride and feeling of accomplishment that Michael feels gently pushes him to go outside of his comfort zone on almost every task presented to him. He senses that he can do more, and he goes for it. This was incredibly evident when he was working with Maryanne O’Donnell.
Maryanne was able to sense perfectly in what areas each of her employees were most skilled, and she honed in on this with everyone. Michael was able to improve on those skills and expand on them with such a high level of confidence. It was amazing to watch."
--Rich Sawyer
Once upon a time, a young man named Conor wanted to work a "real job". Conor is autistic so it was a challenge to find an employer who would give him a chance. It was a challenge to find an employer that understood autism. It was a challenge to find an employer that told him they "wanted to help, but". This meant NO.
The day came when I opened my email and was told about a new business that was opening. This business was looking for individuals with disabilities to run a coffee shop. This was the first opportunity Conor was given to work in an environment that applauded and understood his disability. This was the first opportunity where Conor was looked at for what he could do, not for what he couldn't do!
This life-changing moment was made possible because Maryanne O'Donnell had a vision. Her vision included meeting individuals where they were at. This was so important for Conor's job success because it created a work environment where an individual was valued and could succeed despite challenges. She had a vision where individuals with ID/DD and autism were good for a business and good for the bottom line.
I am so excited to learn about the launch of BrightBridge. Maryanne's employment vision for this group of hardworking individuals is going to fill a gap that currently exists in the employment field.
--Terri Farrell