Madison Native, VA Employee: “Autism isn’t a limitation, but an opportunity”
Jomar Rodriguez works each weekday at the Madison VA as a program support clerical assistant and does several jobs, including mail runs, scanning, database management, shredding and even decorating the office for different seasons.
But it’s his infectious smile and contagious positive outlook on life that stands out. Jomar is also unique in that he has autism.
Jomar grew up in Puerto Rico and moved to Madison, Wisconsin, when he was 17. He attended Madison West High School and that’s where he connected with Project SEARCH.
Project Search is a program designed to help developmentally disabled individuals ages 18-21 find careers and become independent. But Jomar says the biggest impact was with his social anxiety. “I had a lot of social anxiety and I was very shy, but they helped me step by step and gave me the tools to overcome those obstacles.”
Now, the same people and situations he once feared are actually things he looks forward to. “I love helping and seeing coworkers and friends. We are all a team and we contribute in different ways to help the Vets.”
Jomar started with Project SEARCH in September of 2021 and was hired full-time by the Madison VA shortly before his high school graduation the following spring. Since then, he has embraced his role and is proud of his contributions to the facility.
For all the success and support he has had, he still wishes people had a better understanding of Autism. “Autism is not one thing. It’s different branches and experiences for different people. But if we believe in ourselves, we can do anything.”
In fact, spreading that awareness has become one of Jomar’s missions. “For me, autism isn’t a limitation, but an opportunity to show the world that you can do anything with the right support and tools.”
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