Meet Becky: A Love for Science leads to a Lifetime Career

At Easterseals, setting people up to succeed in a new career is just as important as helping them find that job that they will love. Becky began with Easterseals’ LINK Program, a program designed to help young adults with autism learn social and job skills so they can transition from school to the workforce. But it wasn’t just Easterseals that helped Becky, Becky’s new career opened an important partnership with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. 

Becky went through LINK with flying colors, and during that time also completed college coursework to pursue her love of science. Becky worked with an autism specialist to try and find a career where she could put her passion for science to good use. 

Part of Becky’s college coursework took place at the Danforth Center, an independent, not-for-profit research institute dedicated to plant science located in St. Louis. Knowing how much she enjoyed her coursework there, her autism specialist arranged for Becky to complete an observational visit to the campus. Becky and her specialist were planning to apply for entry-level positions there, as a starting point for Becky’s career. 

During the visit, Becky met the team in the Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory. The Laboratory uses state-of-the-art imaging technology to document plants, microbes, and their interactions, from whole plants down to the cellular level. They were so impressed with her education and keen interest in their work in the lab, they persuaded her to apply for a Lab Technician position. 

Becky is now a proud Lab Technician for the Center, and assists the team she met by preparing samples and tools as they complete their experiments.  She is eager to have the new opportunity, work with her new team, and advance her career in the science field. 

But that’s not all that Becky’s employment journey has done. Not only has Becky blazed a career path that she is truly passionate about, but she has also opened the door to numerous other people like her looking to begin a career in science.  The team at the Danford Center were so impressed with Becky, Easterseals’ Employment team was able to forge a new partnership with the Center. Moving forward, other people with disabilities participating in Easterseals’ pre-employment and employment services will have the chance to explore careers in science thanks to the Center’s involvement.