“It was inevitable,” says Danielle. Inevitable that she would end up working at Community Connections, that is.

Her mom and dad were therapeutic foster parents with Community Connections. She has a relative with a disability that she’s helped care for. She worked in assisted living for a while. She has ten siblings, including six adopted ones.  

“I can put things I’ve learned over the years to use,” she says. “It’s never stagnant.”

Danielle works with customers who experience developmental disabilities.

“I like the interaction, and the challenge.”

Whenever someone thinks she can’t handle a certain customer or behavior, she’s very firm about her experience and comfort level.

“I will tell you if I need help.”

The biggest challenge she faces day-to-day is figuring out which tools in her “toolbox” she should use for any given situation. It could be a technique for encouraging the customer to focus on their goals, or for discouraging a certain behavior.  

Glen Fazakerly, one of the residential coordinators at Community Connections, says that when Danielle is with a customer, “she is fully present for them and fully engaged in the habilitation process. She takes guidelines… and strives to see how she can build on those to continue to teach new skills.”

In her time outside of work, Danielle enjoys taking pictures, spending time with her husband, and taking walks. 

Thank you, Danielle, for your dedication to our customers!

Danielle is a Support Specialist II in our Senior & Disability Services department in Ketchikan.