Don’t judge John by his cover. He has been routinely placed in physically demanding jobs that call for lifting, digging and stocking. But John is tech savvy. He knows his way around the backend of a computer program and enjoys spending time at a desk working with computers.
“I realize I had to make this happen on my own,” said John Debethune, a Clerical Assistant with the BCArc Training Department. “BCArc gave me this opportunity a year ago and I haven’t looked back. It still gives me plenty of free time at home to create my interactive fiction novels.”
John is on the autism spectrum. He had previously lived in an autism-based program, which led him to realize that he needed to live alone. He said his autism often goes unrecognized because he is adept at social situations. “That’s been my obsession since I was young – studying social interaction. I’ve become quite good at it, talking to people and understanding cues. So it is harder to see my autism than it would be for someone, say, who is obsessed with trains.”
John sees a future of pursuing work and leisure in moderation, continuing to build his safety net and honing his writing and computer skills. “I’ve made it to this point, I expect I will continue to live independently and appreciate the opportunities I am given.”
John grew up in Northfield, Mass. He moved to the Berkshires to be closer to his mother and sister. “I’m not as close to my family as most people with a disability are. I’m fairly independent. I should work to be closer with them.”
John has a keen eye for the bigger picture. In high school, he understood early that testing was everything. So he did the minimal classwork, but aced the tests. “Just enough to get by,” he said, a theme he continues to live by. “It’s hard enough for me to keep everything together as it is.”
Service for individuals with his diagnosis are very difficult to obtain. He learned what the benefits, the rules and the limits were and now is able to fully utilize them.
In December 2020, John was referred to Lisa Hopsicker, Director of Staff Development and Training, as a possible clerical assistant for the Training Department. That position is responsible for uploading documentation to the learning management system. Lisa interviewed him and saw much potential in John and believe he would be a great addition to the Training Department.
“John told me that he prefers calmer work environments where he knows what is expected of him and there isn’t a lot of drama,” Lisa said. “I knew he would be a great fit for us. And we were in need of someone to help us with our document uploads.”
“John has made a fabulous addition to the Training Department. He is responsible for uploading all the documents completed by new employees at agency orientation and for recertification documentation of staff for administering medication.
He learns quickly and takes pride in his work. His personality is also a great one to have around. John works two days a week with us and I am grateful for the time he gives us.”
John likes to talk; he is articulate and disarming. If he didn’t tell you he has a disability, you would not know. He recognized in himself at a young age that he functioned best when he did not overwork himself. “So many people I know do nothing but work. I am careful to work to live and not live to work. I keep my costs low, so I don’t need to work a lot. But the money I’m earning I’m saving for a safety net.”
In his off-time, the 25-year-old creates online fantasy stories that allow the reader to make choices with the plot. Choose the space traveler’s friends or pick the next planet to visit, for example. “I make these stories to help people relax,” he said. “These stories are escape fantasy, to let you get away, be someone else for a few moments. You pick your story, and you can keep going back and changing your plot.”
A quick Google search calls up an enormous marketplace of interactive novels, some of them clearly lucrative. “I do this because it’s interesting, not for money. I plan to give them away for free, or if I charge, I would charge a donation, what someone would want to pay.”
John sees a future of pursuing work and leisure in moderation, continuing to build his safety net and honing his writing and computer skills. “I’ve made it to this point, I expect I will continue to live independently and appreciate the opportunities I am given.”
