What I Thought MSDC Was — And What It Truly Is

When I started working at MSDC in August of 2025, I thought I knew what to expect.

I’ll be honest — I came in with a very stereotypical understanding of what working with adults with disabilities would look like. Like many people, when I heard “intellectual and developmental disabilities,” my mind immediately went to a narrow picture. Autism was part of that picture. So were assumptions about limitations, dependence, and what someone couldn’t do.

Now, standing here in January, at the start of a new year, I can say with certainty: I was wrong.

And I think many of us are.

What I’ve learned in just a few months at MSDC has completely shifted my perspective — not just about disabilities, but about people, ability, pride, and what it really means to belong.

One of the first things that challenged me was how normal everything felt. I remember meeting participants and thinking, Why are they here? They seemed just like anyone else. They talked easily. They laughed. They worked. They showed up on time. They took pride in what they were doing.

I’ll admit it — I was confused.

That confusion forced me to confront my own misconception: I had a very limited understanding of what intellectual and developmental disabilities actually look like. I assumed there was one version, one presentation, one “type.” What I’ve learned instead is that there are many spectrums within every disability — and no two individuals are the same.

Some participants live independently. Some hold long-term, steady jobs. Some manage responsibilities that many people labeled as “normal” struggle with every day. And many of them do it with consistency, reliability, and pride.

In fact — and this is my honest opinion — many of the participants I’ve met are more dependable than the so-called “normal” people we often hold up as the standard.

What stands out the most isn’t what they can or can’t do. It’s how much they care.

They care about doing a job well.
They care about being helpful.
They care about showing up.
They care about each other.

There is a level of pride in their work that is deeply moving. When a participant completes a task, reaches a goal, or learns something new, the joy on their face is unmistakable. Their smiles are real. Their excitement is genuine. Their accomplishments matter — and they know it.

And that joy? It’s contagious.

Working at MSDC has reminded me of the importance of the small things — the things we rush past or take for granted. A job well done. A kind word. A shared laugh. A sense of belonging.

The participants here remind me — and all of us — that worth is not measured by how someone fits into a narrow box of expectations. It’s measured by humanity, effort, connection, and heart.

I am grateful to be here. Truly.

MSDC isn’t what I thought it was.
It’s better.
It’s fuller.
It’s more human.

And I’m thankful for the way it has opened my eyes — not just as a professional, but as a person.

As we step into a new year, I carry this perspective with me. I hope, by sharing it, I might help open someone else’s eyes too.

Because when we really take the time to see people for who they are — not who we assume them to be — everything changes.