Jamie Dri Success Story: Celebrating 15 Years With Jobs West

For many, success is defined by job title and bank accounts. For Jamie Dri, overcoming crushing anxiety and living independently means she is on top of her game. She has been a part of DDA's employment program, Jobs West, for the last 15 years and has no plans to stop! She shares her lived experience in this episode of the Encouagring Abilities podcast.

 

TRANSCRIPT

 

Jamie Dri Success Story: Celebrating 15 Years With Jobs West

 

00:05

Welcome to DDA's Encouraging Abilities podcast. I'm your host, DDA communications manager, Evan Kelly. Here we are in our comfy little sound studio, DDA head office in Richmond, BC. This is our 29th podcast. And fortunately today we have a long-term client of DDA talking to us about her lived experience with some of our programs. We have done many podcasts with advocates and experts, but not always someone who brings their lived experience for us to hear.

 

00:33

So joining me today is Jamie Dri, who's been involved with our Jobs West program. And not only that, she's celebrating 15 years of working with our Infant Development Program, which is absolutely amazing. It is a huge success story, but it hasn't always been that easy, of course. So thank you for joining me today and making the effort to come to head office and do this face-to-face, because we don't often get to do it, sometimes thanks to COVID, but I'm really happy to have you here. Thank you.

 

01:00

So right off the top, Jamie, tell me a little bit about yourself. Well, I live on my own in Vancouver and I have a job working with kids. I love painting, reading, and I'm a huge fan of Shania Twain.

 

01:21

Shania Twain. I'm a musician myself, so I like to talk about music a lot. One of my questions was going to be what's your interest in music? So what's your interest in Shania Twain? Not only do I love her songs, but I love her as a person. I think she sets a very good example for everyone.

 

01:47

out there. After all she's been through, she's, I find her to be a very strong woman. Yeah. Just a good all-around Canadian. I adore her. Yeah, she is very good. So how did you start with DDA and Jobs West?

 

02:05

Well, I was referred to Jobs West by a social worker 15 years ago. And I said I wanted to work with kids and that's when I started working at IDP and I've been working there ever since.

 

02:25

15 years is a long time for anybody to be at a job. I don't think I've held a job for 15 years in my entire life, to be totally honest. I've been with DDA for about four years now, and really quite enjoying it. So tell me what you like about working with kids.

 

02:43

I just love kids. I think they're so cute and they're sweet. And I just love them and they come up with the funniest things to say sometimes. Absolutely they do. So how many days a week do you work at IDP? Three days a week, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Do you have another job outside of IDP? Right now it's just IDP.

 

03:10

And you've mentioned you like working with pets. Yes. I love animals and actually I used to do work experience at a doggy daycare about 17 years ago. I played with the dogs and fed them. And I remember there's one little dog who

 

03:39

He got pretty attached to me and every time he saw me coming in he would run up to me with his little paws in the air. I'm a dog lover myself. I totally, I totally get what you're talking about. I don't have one right now. Do you have any pets at home? I have a cat. Oh, do you? Yes. She's with my mom right now. What's her name? Her name is Abby.

 

04:01

Abby. Yeah, I call her Abby-dabby-doo or abber-dabbers. Abber-dabbers? Yeah. Is Abby a tabby? Yes. Is that right? Yes. I guessed it. I had no idea. And so do you still take part in a lot of, pardon, or drop in the center these days? Yes, I do. And what do you do there? Is art a big part of that for you?

 

04:28

Um, yes. I haven't been to art lately, but I'll work on that. Yes, we need more art. So tell me about a day about working at IDP. What do you do? You get there and then what happens? Well, on the days that I work with the kids, which is once a week,

 

04:57

First we have about an hour of free play.

 

05:08

So I play with them, I talk to them and get to know them. Then we do clean up and snack, and then circle time and some songs. And then on the other days, I clean the toys. I'll clean the toys, okay. Yes, they've gotta be sanitary, I suppose. That's pretty important. Yes. And how many hours a day for those three days are you working?

 

05:36

Um, three hours a day, so that would be nine hours in a week. That's a nice work week. Yeah. That'd be all right. Yeah. So I'm also been told that you, you know, we'll switch gears a little bit here. I'm told that you've got an indigenous background. Yes. Can you tell me about that a little bit? Um, yes. My dad was part indigenous. Uh, Cree, I think.

 

06:06

I think. Interesting. That's a little, I think that's a little Eastern from here, but that's kind of kind of interesting to know. What do you want the community to know about you?

 

06:19

What I want the community to know about me is... You can take your time. Like again, there's no rush for any of this.

 

06:30

Well, coming from someone who used to suffer with such terrible anxiety, not so bad now, but I would say anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

 

06:52

That's amazing. Can you talk a little bit about your anxiety and how that was for you? Because you don't seem like you have that much anxiety right now. And this is a very strange setting for anybody, really. Well, before... I would get pretty bad panic attacks.

 

07:18

years ago because there was a lot going on in my life that needed to... I needed a different situation, I'll just put it that way. Understood. Yeah. And how are you doing now? Good. Good? Yeah, I'm doing really good. Excellent. So you're living on your own now? Is that 100% living on your own or do you have some help? I'm living on my own. I've been living on my own for the last...

 

07:48

four years, but I've had LifeSchools workers help me out. I see my LifeSchools worker that I have now, I see her on Thursdays and whatever I need help with, she's there. And that's great. And you now live...

 

08:11

It says in 2016 you went back to live in Vancouver. You went to live with your mom prior to that? 2016? I was actually already living downstairs from my auntie with my family. But I used to live with my mom and brother in Surrey for a couple of years and then we moved back to Vancouver.

 

08:41

That was around 2011 or 2012 or something like that. You prefer living in Vancouver? Yes, yes. It says, I understand you live in a co-op now? Yes. Now, my understanding of co-op is that residents often have to sort of give back a little bit. Like I have friends who live in a co-op and they have to like help.

 

09:07

build fences or something like that to help with the overall community? Is there something like that in effect or do you just do your own thing? Well I've joined some events. Any opportunity I get I participate in the events.

 

09:28

Just community kind of events like are they barbecues or? Yes, a barbecue. I've been to a magic show. I've been to a yard sale. Cool. Did you buy anything? Yeah, I bought a little angel bear from my room and a little Christmas mouse. Well that's good. Christmas is coming.

 

09:58

So how does it feel to be living independently? You're pretty much on your own and you have some help from time to time, but you're mostly doing your own thing. How does that feel? I love having my own place, especially in a co-op where I can stay forever and I can decorate it and make it my own. Is it a one-bedroom place you're in? It's a one-bedroom.

 

10:28

in Vancouver that can be really expensive so I'm glad you've got some place safe and sound. Yes, me too. Let's go back to Jobs West. You started with Jobs West something 15 years ago you were saying or 16 years ago? It was about 15 years ago. And it's only been IDP that you've worked with with that program because I know we've got clients in a variety of different things. First...

 

10:56

It was, yeah, definitely IDP. I've also worked at Grandview. I started working at Grandview DDA before I moved into my own place, a few years ago.

 

11:22

And I was cleaning, there I was cleaning the New Zealand room. Do you consider yourself a self advocate? Um, I think so. Someone who thinks it's important to stand up for people with developmental disabilities. Yes. And what would you say to someone who's trying to be independent like yourself? Um,

 

11:52

Well, I would say to them.

 

11:58

I would say if you want to live independently, but you're feeling scared to make that move, it's totally okay to feel scared because change can feel scary at first. Don't think that you have to feel a certain way. I think that was very well said. That's extremely wise. It's okay to feel scared.

 

12:26

And how do you feel about DDA? Have they been really supportive of your goals?

 

12:33

Yes, DDA has been very supportive. I got my job through Jobs West and CAP has helped me in so many ways over the years. I've learned life skills like cooking, cleaning, speaking up for myself and budgeting and I've also had lots of emotional support. Oh that's good, that's good. So

 

13:01

Like has it been hard for you to get to where you are today? Yes, it hasn't been easy. I've worked hard and pushed through a lot of anxiety and obstacles that life has thrown at me. However, with the amazing support of many people in my life, DDA being one of them.

 

13:27

I was able to overcome it and it led me to where I am today. Now going back a little bit, did you grow up here? I lived in different cities, but yeah, I grew up here. So you were born and raised in the lower mainland? Yes. Essentially. And where did you go to school?

 

13:56

Oh, I went to many different schools. My, I went to high school at Pine Tree in Coquitlam from grade 9 to 11. And then, and then after that.

 

14:21

I returned home after being in foster care and then I went to Centennial and graduated from there. Nice. Yes. Now, you were in foster care growing up. Do you want to talk about that a little bit or is that too much? I won't get into that. Okay. That's okay. But at the end of the day, you did end up going back and living with your mom, correct? Yes.

 

14:50

What are your plans for the future? Do you give that a lot of thought? I know you've been with IDP for 15 years, but maybe you'll want to change or something like that? I definitely want to stay with IDP until I retire. Until you retire? Yes. That's like 40 years from now. I ain't going anywhere.

 

15:14

But otherwise I'm not really sure right now. So far I just want to keep doing what I'm doing. That's good. I mean, you're working three days, nine hours a week. Do you want to increase your work and work more? Or you're kind of happy with the way things are right now? I'm happy with the way things are right now. I might think about.

 

15:41

increasing, getting more work. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's good. I mean, a little more money's not going to hurt anybody. Yeah. And so, when you're living on your own, you're making your own food. I'm trying to expand even my own kitchen skills. And what's your favorite thing you like to make yourself?

 

16:03

I really like this pasta, there's not a particular name for it, it's like a stir fry. So I add like zucchini, peppers, other lots of vegetables. And I add

 

16:26

The really thin, the angel hair pasta, my favorite kind of pasta. And then sweet and sour sauce. Oh, sounds like a very Asian dish. It is good. So what do you do on weekends? Usually I'm with my family on the weekends. I see my mom and brother. Oh, and they're in Surrey? Right? They're in Vancouver. Oh, they're in Vancouver now. Okay. Yes. And how old's your brother? He's...

 

16:57

32. So he's older than you? He's younger. He's younger than you? Yeah. And what do you guys like to do on the weekends together? We just hang out. One of the things we do is a Schneidwein karaoke. Oh, give me a sample. I don't know if I want to put you through that.

 

17:26

Oh my gosh. Where do you, so you just, do you do Shania Twain karaoke at home? Oh yeah. Yeah. As an actual machine or you just sing along? I just sing along. Are you a good singer? Sometimes. You don't have to be bashful, that's okay. That's pretty funny. Who are some of your other favorite music artists? Um, I mostly listen to countries. So like Faith Hill.

 

17:56

Leanne Rimes. That's going back a little bit too actually. Yeah, Trisha Yearwood. Those are some big names. But it's mostly Shania Twain. Keith Urban? Do you like Keith Urban? I don't listen to his music much. He's got some, he borders that...

 

18:16

Kinda country, kinda rock pop, so I'm not a big country fan, but I like what he does. And I do like Shania Twain. Respect to Shania Twain, for sure. Yes. What about, like, what movies, what movies do you like to go see? Or maybe you don't like seeing movies. I love movies like Titanic. That was the last...

 

18:39

the last movie I went to see with my cousin. It was in 3D. Oh wow, Titanic in 3D. That's a little bit out of the theaters for a while now. What about James Cameron's other big things like Avatar and stuff like that? No. You don't like those? No? No, not really. Alright, fair enough. So I think we can almost wrap this up. We're doing pretty well here. Is there anything else you'd like to...

 

19:07

Tell the public about being a self advocate, about doing your own thing independently, and being a worker, and being dedicated to what you're doing? I would say, like I said before, that I did suffer with terrible anxiety, and I came a long way from that. Absolutely. I mean, like where I am now. So...

 

19:35

I would say, again, if you're feeling scared, that's totally okay. Just feel what you're feeling and allow it. And if I could do it, you can do it. So how did, I'm curious about anxiety because I mean, everybody feels anxiety on some level. Yes. How did you work through the harder stuff? Well, I've had lots of people that talk to, that have been a great help to me. And...

 

20:06

Yes, there were some things in my life that caused my anxiety to get so bad and out of control that I won't get into details but sometimes I'm not even sure how I made it through all that. But yes, but yeah I have I've had a lot of support though.

 

20:32

Well, that, I mean, to me that just deserves a ton of recognition. Anybody who can recognize that they've got something they need to work through and accomplish that is unbelievable to me. So I doff my hat to you. Like, well done. That's very, very impressive. Thank you. So I think we're about done. I think you've answered all of my questions brilliantly. And then we can go post this online.

 

20:58

You've been listening to the DDA Encouraging Abilities podcast. Our guest today has been one of our great success stories, Jamie Dri, who has been involved with DDA and JobsWest for over 15 years and is actually celebrating 15 years working with our infant development program as proving that independence is possible if you work hard enough at it. Jamie, thanks so much for being here. It's been great to have you. Thank you. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next time.