Peter Dorr started in the Work Adjustment Training (WAT) program at Beacon Group in August 2024. It was the first time in his 20-year-long battle with addiction that recovery worked for him. He was about to celebrate one year of sobriety and, at first, was ready to take small steps toward getting back into employment, not wanting to add too much stress to his life.

WAT is a 90-day paid on-the-job training program that offers one-on-one support from a job coach to a person with disabilities and builds soft skills and positive work habits. Peter was assigned a position in Beacon’s distribution route where he and a job coach delivered and stocked items to grocery stores across town. Peter quickly learned the role and excelled at it, receiving daily accolades from his job coach.

WAT gave him confidence and reacclimated him to working, and when the 90 days were over, Peter knew he was ready to move beyond the “small steps.” A job coach position at Beacon became available. Peter applied and was hired. He was happy to stay with an organization that supported him and didn’t judge him for having a history of drug use.

Now, one year later, Peter recently celebrated two years of sobriety and has reestablished a strong relationship with his mom, something he says would not be possible without the stability that employment brings. He thrives in his role as a job coach because he’s been in his trainee’s shoes, forming a deeper understanding to help guide them on their own journey.