“You gotta fit fun into the schedule!” — Cristen’s Story

by Shabbi Sharifi

“They are very diverse, and they don’t treat me any differently than they treat anybody else.” This, Specialized Housing house member Cristen explained, is the reason why her job is so special and why she has stayed with the firm for 23 years.

Although National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is celebrated in October, this occasion has inspired us to do a little more digging into our own community and learn more about the jobs that our house members hold.

We learned that not only have many of them been employed for several years, but that they also dedicate their time and resources to many different communities and organizations. We got the chance to sit down with Cristen and chat about her job doing data entry for a local law firm, and about some of the different groups that she supports.

I’m jumping right to what I’m most curious about: I hear that you’ve been at your job for 23 years. Why have you stayed so long?

For one thing, I like the job that I do and I get along really well with everyone there. I work pretty much independently, but I do have people that I can go to if I have questions. I love my job, not just like it. Compared to other jobs I’ve had, this one is by far the best fit. 

Why do you love your job? What’s so special about it?

It’s just a great place to work. They are very diverse, and they don’t treat me any differently than they treat anyone else. They treat me very well. I also have a very understanding boss and the easiest thing is the commute. Get on the green line and it’s just a straight shot.

So you do case file data entry for Holland & Knight. What does that mean?

Basically what I do is enter data for all the archive files — all the files that have gone off-site. I get files with information from a case, and I enter those into a special database and then the files are stored in an off-site facility. If the attorney working on a case needs a file, they can just look it up. I’ve entered countless information, considering how long I’ve done the job. Plop me in front of a computer, and I just go. 

Did you work during the worst of the pandemic?

I went and stayed with my mom close to the Cape. I was there from March 2020 to April 2021, so basically an entire year, away from my house. But they sent me a work laptop, and I worked from my mom’s every single day. And now I only work from home one day a week because the other days I’m in the office. 

When you were working from home, was it challenging not being in a work environment?

Yeah it was, but because I had the work laptop, I was able to communicate with other people,  with my supervisors and my boss. The most challenging part about working through the pandemic was not being able to physically see people. Not that I minded being at my mom’s, where I had quiet, because in my house with nine other people, there’s always something going on!

Talk to me about Best Buddies. What is it? I hear you’ve done a lot for the program: friendship, jobs, and leadership?

Yeah so for the leadership part, I’ve advocated a lot, I’ve spoken at least twice — because I believe people with disabilities should be given every opportunity to succeed. What I really like about Best Buddies is that they listen to the individual. Like if that person is looking for a specific job, they’ll do their best to find that person a job. For Friendship, they provide Buddies for individuals who are looking to have a buddy to hang out with. And then for jobs, they always provide a job coach, someone that I can go to when I need help talking to my boss. They help with any work-related issue. 

Tell me a little about yourself besides work.

Well, I haven’t been on a plane in three years because of the pandemic. My dad is out in Colorado and I haven’t seen him in three years. I have a brother who lives in Montana. I saw him a couple years ago. I have one sibling who lives in Massachusetts as well, but my other five siblings are in different states. One of these days I hope to see my dad. Trying to plan around a work schedule can be tricky as well, because I have to make sure I have the time off. Because besides working, I do Special Olympics, and I’m in a band as well. I’m from New Orleans originally, so I moved from a big city to a small town, and that was a big adjustment. We moved when I was 18, but I’ve adjusted to it nicely. It wasn’t easy. When I was growing up, I was teased a lot. It started in middle school probably around the 6th grade. I got teased probably because I was different. Especially by boys, ugh. But once my parents found my high school, things changed dramatically for the better. 

A band?!

I’ve been in a band for going on six years. I sing. We practice once a week but we’re on break right now. We’ve done gigs… we’ve played some galas, we did Jolette Stadium, and the Hard Rock Cafe in Boston, which isn’t around anymore. We’ve done a lot but I really enjoy it, it’s so much fun!

Do you guys do covers or write your own music?

We do popular tunes from the 80s and 90s. The music was probably the only thing, during the pandemic, that kept me on even ground. The music was probably my saving grace. It provided a stress reliever.

How long have you been singing?

I’ve always wanted to sing, but I didn’t get this particular opportunity until my drummer friend introduced me to this foundation that basically provides opportunities for people [with special needs] to express themselves via music, whether it be autism or any other kinds of special needs. I’ve been a part of this organization for almost 6 years. I honestly wish they had more programs like this.

What’s the name of the organization?

The name of the foundation is MUSE, which stands for Music, Unity, and Social Expansion. I’ve met a lot of different people through this whole thing. I always look forward to Thursday [band practice]. Thursday has become my favorite day of the week! 

You’re a singer and you mentioned that you participate in the Special Olympics. What are your sports?

Right now I’m in basketball until early April. Then I do volleyball in the spring, softball in the summer, and soccer in the fall. I started out only doing softball, then a friend of mine from another Specialized Housing house got me into soccer and basketball and volleyball. So, I’m now basically a 4-sport athlete, which keeps me very busy. But fortunately none of it interferes with my work schedule. 

So you work, you’re a singer, and you’re an athlete. When do you find time for fun?

Well, that happens generally on the weekends. Basketball is Saturday mornings, then I generally go out with my friends. In my house, I have one of my best friends from high school. It’s tricky to balance, but I can work during the week then during the weekends I can just have fun. You gotta have fun. You gotta fit fun into the schedule! 

When did you move into your SHI house?

I moved into my SHI house when I was 29, back in 1998. So I’ve been in this house for almost 25 years.

That’s amazing. Talk to us about it a bit. 

When I first heard that there was an opening in this house, I was living in Colorado with my dad and I had been away from family for 5 years. And when I heard there was an opening in this house in particular, I knew I had to jump at it. I look back, and it was by far the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m closer to family, I have friends, I have a social life, which when I was in Colorado was nonexistent. I had no one, basically. In this house, I basically have a built-in group of friends, which makes things more enjoyable. We have our few hiccups here and there but we all get along for the most part. We work well together. We’re a pretty diverse group of people. I’m glad they have houses like this. I lived on my own for 5 years so I’ve had the experience of living completely and totally on my own. Coming here was a pretty seamless transition. I discovered quickly that I don’t do well living on my own because I feel isolated. I prefer to be around people that I know.

What’s your favorite thing about living in an SHI house?

Having my independence. I like the location. I have a built-in group of friends. My mom kept saying if she’d had her way, I’d have been in Specialized Housing long before I was. My parents always disagreed on it and I wanted to say “ask the person it’s going to affect, don’t argue about it amongst yourselves, ask the person that it’s going to affect!” But the point is, I’m in an SHI house and I wouldn’t change it, and both my parents have been a great support.