We often take for granted the opportunity each of us has to work and participate in our community, opportunities that many individuals challenged by disabilities do not have. With the support of WACOSA’s donors, volunteers, board members, staff and other agency stakeholders, we are able to help over 500 adults with disabilities secure a purpose and a place in their community in 2010.

WACOSA’s team of knowledgeable and committed staff provide individuals important strategies to break down barriers to employment and master challenges of daily living. As a result, the people we serve develop skills that are vital in helping them earn a paycheck, secure employment, and become active members of their community, all while building self-esteem. As WACOSA’s clients reach retirement age, they continue to be involved in activities through our collaborative efforts with the Whitney Senior Center, designed to give older adults an opportunity to remain fully integrated and active with other seniors long into the future. Within the first few minutes of any first-time meeting, the conversation usually gravitates to, “So, what do you do for a living?” As citizens, our ability to answer this question is a strong identifier of who we are as productive individuals. This identification is equally as strong for the people served by WACOSA. That’s why your tax deductible donation to WACOSA is so vital to our organization. It directly benefits our clients by helping them successfully work, live and remain active in their community.

This year, donations from WACOSA supporters helped us expand our work programs and enabled us to grow our community based jobs. 2010 saw growth in:

• DocuShred - “A document destruction business”. We’ve been able to secure a record number of local shredding customers which directly translates to more work for our clients. We also increased the number of work crews in the community and placed more individuals in positions of permanent employment with local businesses.

• Plastic Recycling Program - We now offer free recycling of plastics to local businesses. Some businesses report cutting their dumpster use in half by using this service. The program provides paying jobs for WACOSA consumers who sort recycled products, in addition to promoting our community’s goal of “going green”, a concept we can all support for the future of our world.

• Community Employment - Our “Can Do” Crews who go out in to the community as well as clients hired directly by employers increased in 2010 as we strived to get the word out to our business community about what an excellent asset WACOSA workers are to any business.

To continue to build these types of job opportunities, we rely on the generosity of our many friends and donors. Please consider becoming part of the WACOSA family by showing your support with a tax deductible gift. You can make a difference and can help break down the barriers that adults with disabilities face every day.