Linda Stevanus was nervous when her daughter Natalie said she wanted to apply to be a manager at the coffee shop where she works. Natalie has Down syndrome and her mother worried that she’d be unable to fulfill all of a manager’s duties — like filling out paperwork or handling money. More than that, Linda worried that her daughter might fail.

But Natalie was determined. She liked the black shirts that managers wear. So she applied for the position despite her mother’s concerns and she got it. The management tweaked Natalie’s job to focus on her strengths — greeting customers and serving tables rather than lots of paperwork. Now Natalie is a staple at the coffee shop, performing her duties like a pro and fitting in right along with everyone else, reports The (Waterloo, Ontario) Record. To read more click here.

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