MHMRA of Harris County - Annual Report FY 2012 2012 | Page 11

Investing in Healthy Minds and a Healthy Community

M

yriam Lisette
Arguello works two
jobs, pays taxes and
is saving money to move into
her own apartment. She thinks
of herself as a role model, and
she’s not alone in thinking
that. She was recently honored
for her self-advocacy at the
American Association on
Intellectual and Developmental
Disabilities - Texas annual
conference.
Myriam Lisette did not
always present herself as
such a powerhouse, however.
There was a time when her
communication skills were not
polished, her confidence was
low, and she was too nervous to
perform well in job interviews.
She found the help she needed,
however, at MHMRA.
Over the years, Myriam
Lisette has received a variety
of services through MHMRA.
Her mother, Lisette Arguello,
said that MHMRA’s Dual
Diagnosis Services (DDS)
helped Myriam Lisette

Myriam Lisette Arguello always had the knowledge she needed for work
she wanted - but she couldn’t communicate that in interviews. MHMRA’s
programs came together to give her the boost of self-confidence she
needed to nail the interview and land the job.
develop her self-esteem, and
the Coffeehouse program has
helped her maintain her selfesteem and continue to develop
critical social skills. DDS is a
day program for adults who
have both developmental
disabilities and mental
illness. Individuals learn to
manage their symptoms of
mental illness so they can
participate more actively in the
community. The Coffeehouse
program is a drop-in day
program for adults living with
Asperger’s Disorder and other
Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Participants interact with each
other and staff members, both
in groups and one-on-one, to
practice communication, social
and independent-living skills.
Through MHMRA’s
Employment Connections

program, Myriam Lisette
learned how to write an
effective resume and give
strong interviews. These job
readiness skills, combined with
her growing confidence and
communication abilities helped
Myriam Lisette land a job
after six years of unsuccessful
searching.
“I was shocked when I got my
first job,” she said. “I never
had a job before. I was mostly
surprised that I did well in the
interview, that I answered the
questions right and that they
liked me. I was proud.”
Myriam Lisette now works
concessions at Reliant Stadium.
She also works for the Texas
Young Autism Project, helping
children who, like herself, have
Autism Spectrum Disorders

and need special services to
develop life skills. She worked
hard to get this job. Through
Coffeehouse, she developed a
career contact at the University
of Houston – Clear Lake who
helped her get the training
she needed to work with
the children. After that, she
relied on her own self-esteem,
courage and initiative”to call
behavioral day treatment
centers around the community
to inquire about employment
opportunities, her mother said.
“She has become very
independent and a better
communicator,” her mother
said. “We want to thank each
one of the people who work
in MHMRA’s programs that
helped Myriam Lisette.”

Valuing Integration and Independence
Sigmund Freud once said, “Love and work are the cornerstones
of our humanness.” Many years later, we continue to find that
the ability to engage in meaningful interaction socially and
vocationally is indeed at the heart of becoming a happy and
healthy human being. Myriam Lisette has made this journey as
she participated in MHMRA’s IDD Services Division programs.
She has grown personally and professionally with the support
of services from MHMRA, and she continues to overcome
challenges in her daily life.
We all face challenges. When individuals with disabilities are
integrated into our communities, it becomes clear that we all
share more commonalities than differences. Contributing to
our community offers all of us opportunities for inclusion
and belonging. As our communities become more diverse
and accepting of differences, we all benefit from each other’s
presence. The IDD Services Division promotes and values
independence and integration as benefits both to the individuals
and families we serve as well as to the larger community.

The IDD Services Division strives to encourage, equ