{site_title}

Woman wins state-wide award for workplace achievement

She goes to work cheerful every day. Her supervisors say she’s dependable and a quality worker. She’s proud to share with anyone the fact she works at McDonald’s and loves it.

Marie Isenberg recently won InterHab’s Achievement in the Workplace award for her success and dedication to her job at McDonald’s which she has held for 17 years. Marie beat out many deserving nominees from across the state of Kansas to win her award.

Marie came to Wellington from a state institution in 1988. She moved into a Futures-owned group home, and attended Wellington High School until her graduation in 1990. As part of her school program, she participated in activities that were to prepare her to get – and keep – a job in the community.

Marie has such a delightful outlook on life, despite her challenges. She has moderate mental retardation. She has a difficult time communicating as she is not able to say more than a few words and phrases in an understandable manner. Also, she sometimes has a difficult time understanding what is being said to her. She is currently doing a speech program at home with staff support.

In 1992, Marie got a job at McDonald’s in Wellington. They were very supportive and encouraging, however, it was soon apparent that Marie was going to have difficulty with all of the existing positions in the store. After a couple of less-than-successful attempts at busing tables, the school staff decided to get her involved with the state’s vocational rehabilitation program and Futures’ supported employment program.

To help assure her success, a job was “carved out” for Marie that would let her develop and use her skills, while benefiting the restaurant. By pulling some of the prep assignments out of other store positions, a job was created specifically for prep work. She started preparing the salads and breakfast burritos and then some other specialized tasks as well. What she was doing actually was more involved and took more steps than busing a table, but they were skills that Marie could learn and master.

Using lots of picture cues, step by step training was provided to her for six months. Once she demonstrated proficiency, training was reduced to every three months. And since then the rest is history. Marie has adapted to many task changes – even learning to bus tables after all. She is filling baggies with table service items, assembles new salads that are introduced and cleans the restaurant. All of these tasks she has adapted to without the help of a job coach. Marie no longer works with the aid of picture cues - something that she has needed for several years. The only assistive device that she currently needs is one the management staff mark daily to inform her of the amount of each product she needs to make. She has learned to adapt to change very well. She even earned a raise.

Marie’s eternal optimism, willingness to work, and determination to do a good job has been her approach for 17 years as a McDonald’s employee..

Marie currently shares an apartment with a roommate, rides the local shuttle bus for transportation, and is proud of her job at McDonald’s. And she is steadfast in her goal of living as independently as possible.


Quick list:

All Archived Items:

  • Senator Abrams visits Futures - OCTOBER 2009 - Futures hosts Senator for tour of programs and services.
  • Futures wins community’s Chili Cook-off - OCTOBER 2009 - After winning Futures chili cook-off as a "prelim" to the community cook-off - Wellington Supported Living's Rockabilly Bean Blend brought home the award.
  • Woman wins state-wide award for workplace achievement - OCTOBER 2009 - Marie Isenberg recently won InterHab’s Achievement in the Workplace award for her success and dedication to her job at McDonald’s which she has held for 17 years. Marie beat out many deserving nominees from across the state of Kansas to win her award.
  • Art in the park - SEPTEMBER 2009 - Early Head Start families enjoyed a unique creative opportunity recently.
  • Introducing the WALT card - SEPTEMBER 2009 - Riders now have the option to purchase a WALT card and get FREE rides!
  • Day Services tries out their green thumb - SEPTEMBER 2009 - Production workers grow a garden.
  • Cardinal Country Preschool celebrates town’s birthday - SEPTEMBER 2009 - Preschoolers rode in style in the Conway Springs Fall Fest parade.
  • ANCOR honors the late Senator Edward Kennedy - SEPTEMBER 2009 - Kennedy is the first recipient of the ANCOR Congressional Lifetime Achievement Award.
  • Walkabout winners - AUGUST 2009 - Futures employees make impressive strides in annual stepping contest.
  • From the workshop: Two new projects for the MWC - SEPTEMBER 2009 - After an up and down summer - things are looking up for the workshop.
  • Visitors tour preschool - JULY 2009 - Futures plays host to group wanting to learn more about our program.
  • Individuals eager to work - JULY 2009 - Production workers want to keep busy.
  • Program families go to the zoo! - JUNE 2009 - Children's Services staff organize large-scale social/emotional event for families in services.
  • End-of-year preschool celebration - JUNE 2009 - Celebration brings families and their kiddos together.
  • Noodle what? - JUNE 2009 - The fourth annual Employee Appreciation BBQ in May provided a welcome break for staff to enjoy food and fellowship. Oh, and a rowdy game of noodle hockey.
  • Electrical panels create learning experience - JUNE 2009 - As we continue to gain new contracts to fill the void left by Firestart’rs, we have had a few opportunities to challenge our way of thinking and to stretch our abilities. One of those challenges has been the electrical panel that is now in full production.
  • Then & now: former Head Start student prepares for college - Futures is proud of a high school student who got his start in our Head Start program 15 years ago.
  • Life after FireStart’r sticks - April 2009 - March brought the end of the Firestart’rs for the people working in the Mathew Washington Center. So what is going on now?
  • We need your help! - Go to www.InvisibleKansans.com and show your support!
  • Matthew Washington Award - Mandy Thomson won this year's Matthew Washington Award.
  • The End of an Era - Futures sadly ends production of a long-time product.
  • Take it to Heart campaign announced - New health initiative urges employees to take their health seriously.
    		•