Our organization is blessed to have a super staff of Direct Support Professionals who work hard to to enhance the lives of our participants. This month, we are highlighting Maziar 'Maz' Naderi who joined VV's ADP program in July of 2019. Let's learn more about Maz below.
Question: How did you first find out about VV?
Answer: My sister was working at VV (she still does) and she thought it might be a good fit for me. She was right. The participants are awesome and the staff is great too. I work as a job coach which means I accompany participants while they are on the job. I'm there to guide them when needed and to advocate for them. Some of the participants I have recently coached include Shannon T. who is employed at Albertsons, Ryan C. who works at Target and Paul H. who just got a job at Knott's Berry Farm.
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Question: If someone has never heard of VV, what would you share with them to help them to understand what VV is about?
Answer: At job sites, I am often asked by people who don’t know me why I’m lingering around especially since I'm not in uniform. They sometimes wonder if I'm in security. I like it when they ask because it gives me a chance to tell them about VV and our mission and how I contribute.
For friends and family who ask, I would probably tell them how VV has helped me to grow. I would share how I feel I have become more in-tune with people in general because of VV. The participants I work with give a lot of non verbal cues for how they are feeling and I have learned to be a good reader of these cues. For example, one of my participants communicates a lot with his body posturing while another won't maintain eye contact whenever something is bothering him or he just doesn't feel very well. I have learned how to make better non-verbal connections.
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Question: What is your favorite part of your job at VV?
Answer: Right now, my favorite part is being out and about in the community helping to ensure the vocational success of our participants.
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Question: What is something that could be added, removed or changed to make VV better?
Answer: I would like to see more participants working again after the pandemic. So many of them stopped working during the pandemic and I know they miss it.
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Question: Did you volunteer or work with people who are uniquely abled before working at VV?
Answer: Yes. I have previously worked with wheelchair bound people in the dining area of an assisted living home.
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Question: Are there any interesting, unique or fun facts about you that you would like to share with us?
Answer: I have a twin brother. I am the oldest by a few minutes. We can finish each other’s sentences. I still live with my family and, while I love being around them, they can get kind of loud. I have a lot of family in Australia and I’d love to go back and visit them in Adelaide. I really like to interact with people and be out and about. I love sunset walks.
Here's a picture of me out and about on the boat with VV participant Paul D., whom I have worked with a lot in the past, and VV employee Alvin.
