Danh has been with The Arc since 2006 in the Community Based Day and Employment Supports with a main goal of competitive integrated employment. His employment journey started right when he joined The Arc. Gaining experience from various group employment sites like BioTechne doing assembly work to Chartwell’s Dining service at Fitchburg State, and many in between. Through each one Danh quietly showed up each day, learning routines, and building skills alongside others with support from a staff. Though he was independent, he was often reserved—more comfortable listening than speaking. Still, beneath that quiet demeanor was a steady work ethic and a growing desire for more. He shared that he wanted competitive employment, even before he fully knew what that path might look like.
With encouragement and advocacy from staff, Danh took his first step toward that goal in February of 2021 at Olive Garden. While his hours were limited and he worked only one day a week, he showed determination from the start. He advocated for more hours and additional days, showing that he wanted to do more and could handle more. Eventually, in December of 2023, he added a new position as a Cart Collector at Hannaford, working 15 hours a week across three days in addition to his Fridays at Olive Garden. With the support of a Job Coach, he successfully navigated the competitive employment world with minimal support. Mostly needing additional help with completing paperwork, training, and communication with managers. He also received education about his benefits, empowering him to better understand how employment fits into his broader life goals.
At Hannaford, his strengths truly shined. Once quiet and reserved, he became someone who was often the first to greet others, approaching coworkers and customers alike with a smile and a friendly hello. He found joy in conversation, small talk, and connection. He didn’t just complete tasks—he went above and beyond. He helped customers with their carts, assisted with loading groceries, and made people feel seen and supported during their visit. His dedication did not go unnoticed. He demonstrated excellent attendance, strong work performance, and a genuine commitment to his role. In March 2025, he was recognized as a Service Star of the Month at Hannaford—an achievement that reflected not only his hard work, but also the care and pride he brought to his job every day.
Over the last year, he reached another important milestone: learning how to independently report his wages to the Social Security office. With support from his coach, Danh learned how to print his pay stubs from both of his jobs, how to check in to the social security office, and answered all questions related to his wages. Now that he has mastered this skill, he is working on adding coordination of transportation to completely master this skill independently. This has increased Danh’s confidence and highlights how far he has come since his early days in group employment.
Danh’s story is one of steady growth, quiet determination, and meaningful success. With the right support, encouragement, and belief in his abilities, he transformed his goal of competitive employment into a reality—proving that hard work, consistency, and kindness can truly open doors.