Elgin woman wins award for service to people with disabilities
Lisa Schnell made the first trip of her life to Washington, D.C. last week. She saw the newly dedicated Martin Luther King Jr., National Memorial and some of the nation's most important sites.
But even more exciting was when Schnell got an inspiring dose of professional development and accepted an award recognizing her as the Outstanding Direct Support Person of the year for Illinois.
Schnell of Elgin works with the Association for Individual Development serving people with disabilities. Her job is to provide support to three AID clients, all in their 30s, two of whom live independently. Schnell is like a life coach, helping them make good choices when it comes to finances, food, health and social activities. She helps coordinate group outings with other AID clients and gives these individuals opportunities to have fun.
One of AID's primary goals for the people it serves is to help them gain independence and integrate into the wider community, sharing their gifts as well as receiving the benefits of living in society.
"The heart of this organization is to really want to make a positive difference and make the community and society at large better," Schnell said. "Because these individuals we serve have much to offer."
Schnell started with AID six years ago. She was looking for part-time work and a friend suggested she apply, though Schnell was skeptical she'd have enough patience for the job.
Yes, Schnell admits there are certain days she needs to grit her teeth to get by. But in the end, she has grown to care for the people she serves and has surprised herself with how much she has embraced the work, which she now does full time.
"They need people to look out for them because they can't always look out for themselves," Schnell said about her clients. "If I get to be one of those people I think that's a real honor - more than the honor they gave me in Washington, D.C."
The award came from the American Network of Community Options and Resources, which recognizes one Direct Support Person from each state during its annual conference. Last year Brenda Walker, another AID employee, took Illinois' top prize.
During her time in D.C., Schnell participated in workshops focusing on a variety of topics including the need for a code of ethics in her field and new software geared toward the intellectual abilities of the people she serves. Schnell learned about other professional development opportunities she plans to seek out in an ongoing quest to be better at her job. What's more, the three-day conference gave Schnell a chance to meet new people.
"Being there and seeing this whole group of people who are so passionate about what we do and these other people who are so passionate to make sure the work we do continues to be provided - it was very motivational and very inspiring," Schnell said.
On a personal level, Schnell has noticed the positive impact of her work on her family. She has five kids between the ages of 9 and 25. The younger ones especially have met and bonded with one of the women she serves, internalizing the lessons of interacting with people of differing abilities. She has watched their compassion with joy.
"I'm so proud of the way they've embraced what I do," Schnell said.
For more information about AID, which began in 1961 as a special needs classroom in Aurora and now serves residents of the Fox Valley and surrounding communities, visit the-association.org.