Area man finds comfort working closely with Jefferson's St. Coletta

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:14 PM CST

JEFFERSON - St. Coletta of Wisconsin recently celebrated National Disability Employment Awareness Month and according to St. Coletta officials, Chris Geoghegan exemplifies the mission of St. Coletta - which is to guide individuals with developmental and other challenges to achieve their highest quality of life, personal growth and spiritual awareness.

On Sept. 23, 2001, Geoghegan experienced a traumatic brain injury after a drunk driver hit the vehicle he was driving. Others in the vehicle including his daughter, currently age 11, and a son, 9, were not injured in the accident, but Geoghegan's injury left him unable to function as he did before the accident. He was admitted to the Clearview Brain Injury Center in Juneau and stayed there for 14 months after the accident.

Ultimately, he came to St. Coletta for the support system he needed. Although St. Coletta is well known for assisting people with developmental disabilities, its mission expanded in 2000 to support people who have other challenges such as brain injuries or who are aging, including war veterans in which St. Coletta collaborates with Madison and Milwaukee VA Hospitals through its Golden Options Adult Day Program.

After coming to St. Coletta, Geoghegan enrolled in the Community Employment Program (CEP). CEP assists qualified people with disabilities to choose, obtain, maintain and/or advance in a job in a competitive work environment.

Through CEP, Geoghegan became employed at the Jefferson Wal-Mart in April of this year. His tasks during the summer months include working in the lawn and garden area and greeting customers, organizing and watering the plants. During the rest of the year, Geoghegan works in the electronic area and cleans and dusts the equipment. Currently, he works 12 hours a week at Wal-Mart, which is more than he, along with the staff at St. Coletta, had originally planned.

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“Chris is an asset to our store, we truly enjoy having him as an employee. Working with St. Coletta has been a great experience,” Dan Uttech, Jefferson Wal-Mart store manager, said.

Geoghegan also volunteers four hours per month at Fort Memorial Hospital doing Telecare, which includes making daily phone calls to older adults who live alone.

“I am glad to have St. Coletta of Wisconsin as a choice to provide consumers who are seeking employment in the community. I feel the services received by my consumers are timely and that the staff explore many options to assist them to reach their employment goals,” Charlene Berg, rehabilitation counselor for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, said.

The collaboration between St. Coletta and other community businesses has helped many individuals with disabilities acquire and maintain jobs within the community.

Geoghegan also takes part in Golden Options, which is a day program that gives elderly adults and adults with disabilities daytime support and a chance to socialize with others. St. Coletta officials noted he has learned a lot since he started attending Golden Options.

“Chris always offers a friendly greeting and loves playing board games and trivia. He has also been known to walk three to four miles per day in the Golden Options building,” a media release from St. Coletta said. “Golden Options offers a wide range of activities in cognitive trivia, pet therapy and music therapy with certified therapists.

Geoghegan has close ties with the community and attended high school in Watertown. He currently lives in a group home in Fort Atkinson and does nothing but rave about his experiences with his home.

“I am thankful for St. Coletta and Wal-Mart for helping me discover my abilities and accomplish my goals for employment in the community,” Geoghegan said. He thanked the staff of the Community Employment Program and of Golden Options, as well as Wal-Mart and Fort Memorial Hospital, for providing him with great opportunities.

Geoghegan's parents have been especially supportive of their son.

“We are extremely proud of Chris' accomplishments,” they said. “He has come a long way in such a short period of time and we are in awe of all that he has been able to attain since his accident.”

Founded in 1904 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi of Milwaukee, St. Coletta of Wisconsin is the leading service provider for adults with developmental disabilities and other challenges. St. Coletta helps people lead lives enriched by personal choice, inclusion and opportunity. For more information on St. Coletta of Wisconsin, please visit www.stcolettawi.org.