Sarah Lima beams with pride as she shares the story of her business – and for good reason.
The Barrington resident, 24, co-owns Téia Candle Co., Jewelry and Home Décor, which sells organic, soy-wax candles and handmade jewelry in the northwest suburbs (and worldwide via http://www.teia.online). Sarah became an entrepreneur not long after graduating from Harper College’s Career Skills Institute and many years after doctors determined she had a cognitive disability.
“Sarah was diagnosed with a cognitive disorder when she was around three,” said Sarah’s father Leon. “And when she was in first grade, she received extra support in special education classes at Barrington’s Roslyn Road Elementary School.”
The family shared that Sarah’s disorder impacts higher level problem-solving and verbal reasoning skills. As a result, Sarah’s mother Ester was intent on creating a supportive environment for her daughter and emphasized the benefits of a healthy routine. Meanwhile, Sarah thrived in her school life, taking advanced courses and joining various art programs.
“She was always over the top in respect and kindness, and made lots of friends in ballet, theatre and the choir,” Ester said. “We call it a kind of miracle that we were able to keep her life as normal as possible. We are amazed at how far she’s come and how proactive she is.”
Around the time Sarah was graduating from Barrington High School, the Lima family cared deeply that their daughter should receive a genuine college experience.
“A lot of her friends were moving on in life, and we wanted Sarah to have the same opportunity,” Ester said. Leon agreed: “It seemed important for her confidence and to build responsibility.”
The family learned about Harper’s two-year Career Skills Institute program, which is designed for adults with mild intellectual disabilities. It didn’t hurt that Ester is a Harper alum, having learned English via Harper courses after she and Leon immigrated from Brazil more than 30 years ago.
The Lima family agreed that CSI would be a good fit for Sarah, who enrolled in the program in the fall of 2018.
The Career Skills Institute consists of four sequential semesters, with courses ranging from reading, writing and math to learning about workplace communication, career exploration and enhancing workplace-focused life skills, culminating in an internship opportunity on campus to provide students with skills training that matches their strengths and capabilities.
“We’re more than just building skills towards getting a job,” CSI Program Coordinator Eric Wiebe said. “We work on helping students discover their unique strengths, learn how to advocate for themselves and build strategies to become more independent. We see this is critical to having greater success in the workplace and in life.”
The CSI program is designed to accommodate students with diverse needs. In light of this, Eric emphasized the importance of being part of a college campus and the number of social opportunities for students who come through the program.
Sarah made lasting friendships at Harper, one of the benefits she mentions when talking about the CSI program. Other highlights included her science and math classes, along with career discussions near the program’s end. Those conversations were a big milestone in her entrepreneurial journey.
Continue reading the full version of this article