Meet the Man With Down Syndrome Who Has Worked 30 Years With Washington County

(Screenshot/Google Maps)

Joel Loer has worked for three decades at the community services department at Washington County Government Center. While working at a job for so long is already appreciated, the 51-year-old has Down syndrome, which makes his professional accomplishment even more remarkable.

“That’s his life—his job” his mother, Joan Loer, told St. Paul Pioneer Press. She said that her son “hates it if he has to miss a day. He loves the people he works with. They are so good to him.”

On Feb. 4, 2020, Joel’s co-workers hosted a reception to celebrate his 30th work anniversary, which was attended by 100 people including friends and family, retired workers at the county government center, according to Rise.org.

Joel’s mother explained to PBS Twin Cities, like many students, he initially was unsure of what to do after graduation. “He had been at the school doing some laundry training, and there weren’t any positions like that available,” Joan said.

She further explained that his case manager who was at Washington County Government Center thought he could do some tasks for secretaries, and that’s how Joel got his job in the year 1990.

Joel is supported by the local organization Rise, a non-profit that offers help to disabled people and other barriers to employment. One of the organization’s employees picks him up for five days a week at 9:30 a.m. to take him for work and drops him back at home by 2:30 p.m. Joel’s work includes sorting papers, stamping envelopes, and collating and assembling packets related to adoption, aging, child support, chemical dependency, and more.

His co-workers are in praise of his dedication at work and say that he is extremely focused when he has a job to do.

Not only is Joel really reliable but he has also been known at his workplace for his positive attitude. Pam Stockwell, an employee at Rise, and Joel’s job coach for the last five years, told Pioneer Press, “I just look forward to working with him every day.”

She further added: “He does things that make me melt. He picks up on when a person is not happy or is having a bad day or whatever, and he can just turn their day around—which to me, it means a lot.”

Joel’s supervisor in Washington County Government Center, Tom Adkins, said that he isn’t just a model for disabled workers, but for all workers. “He contributes and does work, but he brings joy, and he has a life of purpose,” Adkins affirmed. “That’s what we all want, and that’s what we all need.”

Joel has also gained such notoriety for his commitment to his job that the county has declared Feb. 4 “Joel Loer Day” in his honor. County Commissioner Gary Kreisel cited Joel as a model employee. “He has a great attitude, a great work ethic, and he fits in so well with the staff,” Kriesel said. “They really appreciate him, and he brings a lot of sunshine to the job.”

However, Joel is not all just work. He loves shopping and dressing up well for work. In addition to that, the lighthearted employee has other hobbies such as coloring on his iPad, dancing, bowling, riding horses, and most important of all, traveling.

This unassuming county employee has been to various destinations around the world, including Fiji, Mexico, and Hawaii, as well as lots of places around the United States. Whether traveling with his family members or people in his group home, “[i]f they offer a trip, he’ll sign up,” his mother said. “He loves to fly.”

Though Joel was born with a congenital heart defect that has required multiple surgeries over the course of his life, he continues to enjoy each day.

Watch the video: