As we close out the year here at reachAbility, it seems like a good time to reflect on some of the lessons that we’ve learned in 2025. We asked our team for one thing that they learned at work in the last year that resonated with them, and here is what they had to say:
Franco (Facilitator – Building on Self-Awareness & Self-Confidence)
“I’ve been impressed by the level of resiliency I see in my clients. Many of the clients I see in BOSS are facing significant personal, professional, or even legal challenges. I’m always impressed by how determined they are not to give up in the face of these challenges.”
Alex (Facilitator – One Step Closer)
“One thing that’s stuck with me is the charity of people in need. We have clients making little or no income, struggling with housing, and relying on food banks and our hot lunch program to eat. They have the least to give, but they are still some of the most generous people you will ever meet.”
Della (Job Developer)
“I learned about the BOSS program, and all the tools it gives clients to tap into their emotions in a healthy way. Emotional regulation is important for everyone, but for many BOSS clients the stakes are extra high. Hearing how their lives change as they start using the tools BOSS teaches them is very rewarding.”
Nick (Facilitator – Ready, Set, Success)
“Something that has really been reinforced this year is the importance of recognizing the difference between what people say they want and what they actually want. The reality is often very different.
This can easily cause confusion and conflict.
To avoid this unnecessary conflict, I think it’s important that we ask more questions to find out why they want that, not just what they want.”
Chelsea (Health & Wellness Coordinator)
“This is something I already knew, but have had reinforced for me this past year. Creating boundaries doesn’t just benefit yourself. Strong boundaries create a sense of safety parameters and predictability for clients that they may have never experienced.”
Evan (Special Projects, Pet Project Coordinator)
“The thing that resonated with me is Neo (our in-house therapy dog), her ability and the power of animals in general to connect with and ground people when they are struggling with stress or an emotional crisis. Her ability to simply be present with someone and to show them unconditional love in the moment has a transformative power that can help people persist in the face of personal challenges and adversity, putting them in position to have those breakthrough successes.”
Herve (Facilitator – One Step Closer)
“I learned the value of clear communication. I realized many issues don’t come from a lack of effort, but from unclear expectations or assumptions. Prioritizing good communication leads to healthy relationships in the workplace (and personal life).”
Blake (Special Projects Lead, Social Enterprise Coordinator)
“I’ve learned that without the right information, intentions often don’t matter. When decisions get made without asking for input from the folks who will be impacted the most, the best intentions still result in bad policy. ‘Nothing for us without us’ is something we say a lot at reachAbility for a reason.”
Tova Sherman (Founder & CEO of reachAbility)
You’ll have to tune in next week for this one! Tova’s LinkedIn article on December 18th will be about the biggest lesson she’s learned at reachAbility this past year, and will also explore some of our exciting plans for 2026. Stay tuned!
