When he wasn't waiting diligently to escort clients to and from the pool deck, Joey Drwal kept busy. He gathered pool floats and toys no longer in use by clients and therapists in the Munroe-Meyer Institute's pool. At one point, he opted to drape a pink inner tube around his shoulders to free up more arm space.
He was quick to clean up spills, tidy the changing areas and pick up used towels during his shift.
Drwal, 22, works at MMI as an intern in the pool area. In addition to that role, he works part-time at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Health and Kinesiology building.
Drwal's success in the workplace comes from his own passion and drive, as well as from skills he's gleaned through MMI's Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES) Lab.
"I think it really helped me. It helped with organization and learning to work with others."
The PAES Lab, which opened in December 2023, gives students with intellectual and developmental disabilities a taste of various careers, including sewing, construction, business and cooking.
Participants, who are 18 and older, choose a career path and, as in a typical job, undergo an onboarding process before eventually clocking in and completing their work.
Each of the five available career paths features between eight and 10 skills to master. Once trainees complete a section, staff print a report showing how well they did and how long it took them to complete tasks. That document can then be shared with their school or future employers.
If trainees complete all five careers, they will have learned more than 260 transferable job skills. Some of those translate to independent living, too, like learning to identify and operate kitchen appliances or practicing time management skills.
So far, more than 180 students have gone through the PAES Lab programming and at least a quarter have gone on to explore career options in the community, said Rachel Ray, assistant professor.
"They have the opportunity to really explore. There's a confidence that goes with exploring and trying something new and realizing they've mastered new skills."
One of the most important parts, Ray said, is putting participants in fields where they have interest.
Some students stick around the program longer than others. But they're all able to get quick and efficient assessments to connect them to the next steps in finding a job.
"We're placing them in jobs that they want, not just what's available," Ray said. "They know they have the skills. It's the confidence piece where they're going in knowing and having experience they would not have had before."
Drwal spent one semester in the PAES Lab. That experience opened up other internship experiences for him, including one with Disability Rights Nebraska and one with MMI's coffee cart. His internship at UNO's H&K building led to his now paid part-time position.
In the lab, Drwal tackled the business and marketing track. He completed general office tasks, such as alphabetizing, filing and numerical sorting.
That career path stood out to Drwal. "I found it challenging, and I like to be challenged," he said.
In his part-time job at the front desk of UNO's H&K building, Drwal is responsible for greeting patrons and checking equipment in and out, as well as other tasks.
The experience also helped him focus on his strengths – working with people and staying organized, his mom Kay Drwal said.
"Typically some of the jobs available to people with intellectual disabilities are not as challenging," Kay Drwal said. "One thing they've helped with here is to put him in programs and jobs that are more challenging for him. It's more interactive. They take his skills and broaden them."
Drwal is the first intern to work at MMI's pool, said Margo Lutes, MMI physical therapist.
Having him around has been "absolutely wonderful," she said. Not only has Drwal been a help for patients and therapists, but he's also learning on-the-job responsibility. He picked up on tasks quickly, Lutes said. And his love for the pool is evident in how he carries himself on the deck.
"We were supportive of anything he wanted to do, but we had no idea what that would look like as he was growing up. We've let him direct us. To see him fulfilling these dreams has been amazing."
Drwal said his work experience has been his "dream come true." He credits that, in part, to his mother's support.