#Changemakers at My Possibilities offer endless opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Psalm 139:14 — “I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made….” My Possibilities is a local non-profit North Texans rely on. It provides vocational education and job placements for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), which may include Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and many more diagnoses. 

It is the first full-day, full-year continuing education program in Collin County and is an enterprise that needs to be on everyone’s radar, both as a user resource and a financial support recipient. 

 According to My Possibilities’ website:

• 250,000 North Texas residents have an intellectual and/or developmental disability 

  • 8% with IDD are employed 

 • 52% of adults with cognitive disabilities leave high school without a diploma 

 • 62% of parents of adults with disabilities don’t have a future plan.

My Possibilities’ participants are known as Hugely Important People (HIPsters), and there’s a reason for that. HIPsters access career services and elective classes on many topics, such as performing and visual arts, wellness and culinary arts, in addition to social skills, communication and independent living skills development — well-rounded experiences enabling HIPsters to achieve their highest potential.

  Administrators with My Possibilities say the career services programs provided are one of a kind.

“We create an individualized plan for each HIPster. We align our approach to what’s important to them and their personal goals in life,” says Mandy Noerper, associate director of support services.

Also speaking on behalf of My Possibilities – and its personal impact – is HIPster Jeffrey L. Thanks to My Possibilities’ introduction, Jeffrey is a highly valued employee of Learfield IMG College. His duties as a supportive assistant include clerical and paperwork assistance for college campuses. He says his favorite part of the job is handling the internal mail cart and monthly birthday cards the company sends out. “The reason I like this job is they like my beautiful penmanship,” he says. Jeffrey’s dream job aligns with his huge passions — either being a theologian or a meteorologist, because he loves the Bible and weather.

Jeffrey attends First Chinese Baptist Church of Dallas and likes to read and write Bible verses every day. Before COVID, he worked weekdays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Now, he hopes to get back to work soon. Meanwhile, he takes classes at My Possibilities in boundaries, essential skills of employment, healthy emotions and open-tech (computers).

His favorite part of My Possibilities? Being on its board of directors. That means he represents all HIPsters and shares everyone’s experiences with the board. Off campus, he’s involved with Special Olympics, where his favorites are basketball and tennis. At home, Jeffrey says he helps with laundry, washing dishes and independent living chores.

Jeffrey speaks what’s in his heart. When asked what he wants Plano Magazine readers to know about him, he pauses and says, “I don’t want to be prideful.” Assured that isn’t the case, he says: “I really am a selfless person, and I can do all kinds of things. I have abilities and people who treasure me. I’m a hard worker.”

Explore My Possibilities at mypossibilities.org, discover the endless opportunities and discover how you can help selfless people like Jeffrey.