ONE of the telltale signs you’ve officially entered the busy professional grind is the cup of coffee you once casually enjoyed on occasion is no longer an option — it’s essential. That’s no different for 34-year-old Jessica O’Grady from Kildimo.
Not unlike this reporter, Jessica started off drinking copious cups of hot chocolate before her role at Edwards Lifesciences meant she needed the extra caffeine hit.
Since January, she has been spreading her winning smile and infectious energy delivering parcels and letters to all of the departments in the Edwards Limerick plant every Thursday. Employees previously received their post via their lockers but it’s clear Jessica’s personal delivery is already having an impact.
The role is in collaboration with Down Syndrome Limerick, Down Syndrome Ireland and Edwards Lifesciences.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, Jessica said she is thoroughly enjoying her time at Edwards so far and has already got stuck into working life-supporting fundraisers for Heart Month, World Epilepsy Day, and availing of the company gym to use the treadmill after her shift.
Nicole Maxwell is a manufacturing team lead at the plant and has taken on the role of mentor to Jessica since she started her new role.
“We have a little map colour coded for each area in each department, so it’s very routine based. She knows the route every week, who to deliver to,” says Nicole. “All the IT guys she nearly has them by name and table at this stage.”
When asked how long it takes Jessica to deliver the parcels and letters, she tells me, quite matter of factly, an impressive 45 minutes.
“I’ve absolutely loved taking this role on,” Nicole added. “Jessica has really come out of herself over the past few weeks and we have such a laugh every Thursday.”
Jessica is no stranger to working life with previous experience in hospital and pharmacy settings. And it didn’t take long for Edwards to also see her potential and offer her a job.
Michelle Coughlan, chairperson of Down Syndrome Limerick said: “We run an employment program all over the country. So usually the way it would happen is we’d make a connection with somewhere like Edwards Lifesciences, but you can’t just ring up blind and say will you take on a person with Down Syndrome because it doesn’t get received well.”
“The dream is always for our adults to have a job, just like Jessica, but it’s not that easy to get it to that point. But for a finish, because we have that beautiful relationship with Edwards, they were the ones coming to us saying they wanted to hire Jessica.”
The employment programme is also proving hugely successful elsewhere across the city with members working in the Radisson Hotel on the Ennis Road, The Woodlands Hotel in Adare, and multiple Specsavers branches across the county.
Jessica’s mother Ann has also noticed a huge difference in Jessica since starting the role, highlighting how important it has been for her to integrate into the community and maintain a level of independence.
It’s this independence that shines through not long into our chat when Jessica wants to get moving again, but not before filling me in on her usual payday treat – anything Disney related and perhaps unsurprisingly, more coffee!