Behind every individual is a support system that makes their success possible. For Camara, guidance and encouragement start at home and follow her all the way to Crumbl Cookies, her place of employment.

Camara began working at Crumbl Cookies after Laura Kuhn, Employment Specialist III, found herself at the franchise located in Bristow, Manassas, searching for employment opportunities for her clients. While many individuals struggle with deciding to disclose a disability on their resume, Camara’s father was forthcoming and created a profile statement for Camara, disclosing her disability. Not knowing what to expect, Laura provided Camara’s information to Store Manager Holly Venegas. After speaking with the store owners, Holly immediately offered Camara an interview and then a job shortly after, excited to have Camara on board.

Before Camara landed her job at Crumbl Cookies, she had been in the employment search process for a number of years. According to Camara’s parents, Cheryl-Ann Millette-Patten and Anthony Patten, Camara and Laura’s pairing was instrumental to her success. The job opportunity Laura sought out for Camara gave her parents reassurance that the employment process truly worked. “It was just like an extra step for her, and it was validation for us as well that she can succeed in the outside world with a job, working with people, taking on tasks. So, for me, it was just an extension of the things that she does at home and to see that she can do it in a formal setting,” said Cheryl-Ann.

In addition to a stellar job coach and support from her family, another pivotal piece to Camara’s success has been the dedication of the store’s owners and manager. “At Crumbl Cookies Bristow, we are very accepting of everybody from all walks of life, pretty much any person that wants to come in and make a difference through cookies. I know it’s just a little thing, with cookies, but it makes a big difference in somebody’s life and having those special moments. To be able to have someone like Camara join us and be able to hear her say she loves working here, it makes it all the more special for us,” says Holly. The supportive energy from leadership to coworkers and their desire to take Camara under their wing as she embarks on her employment journey is nothing short of exceptional. As a result, Camara’s communication has blossomed as she now engages in conversation and is more direct than before being employed with Crumbl Cookies.

Camara’s current duties include rolling cookies and putting them on trays. According to Laura, Camara’s skillset has expanded greatly since she first walked through the Crumbl Cookie doors. “It seems like her focus has gotten better… Her speed of being able to ball the cookie dough has gotten much, much faster, and she’s able to accomplish more prep work. It’s wonderful too that if Camara doesn’t know the answer, she knows where to find it. She maintains her composure, and she’s now becoming more vocal about her likes and dislikes, which is huge.”

Through dedication and unwavering support, Camara’s role at Crumbl Cookies has given her the space to participate in her community fully, and she looks forward to doing so. Her father, Anthony, says, “In the morning, when she’s working, she is prepared. Her clothes are laid out the night previous! You don’t have to wake her; she’s up… Her hair is ready to go. The only question I ask is “where is your hat?”  because she tends to forget her hat [laughs]. She is anxious to get to work, which gives me the sense that she likes it and she’s happy to be there.”

When Camara isn’t working, she likes word searches, puzzles, laundry and shopping. Outside of Employment Services, Camara has ties to Didlake going all the way back to 2015. She was crowned Miss Ability 2015, a pageant that was intended to help contestants gain self-confidence and learn the importance of goal setting. While the pageant is no longer running, it kickstarted Camara and her family’s relationship with Didlake and why her parents consider themselves to be part of the Didlake family. “Didlake is number one in our books,” says Camara’s Mother, Cheryl-Ann.