Latest / Follow the Leighder / Disability Advocacy After a Brain Injury | Andrew Johnson
Transcript
- Leigh/@followtheleighder: Hello, howdy folks and welcome back to another episode of Follow the Leighder. I'm your host, Leigh Larson, and joining me today is special guest, Andrew Johnson. Welcome. Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Hi, thanks for having me Leigh/@followtheleighder: Yeah, absolutely. Andrew Johnson founded Electric City Opportunities. And thank goodness he did. He's doing a lot of work to help folks who all sorts of either cognitive mobility impairments ⁓ here in Great Montana, ⁓ creating striving to help with professional work development. They really hype you up and because of the value you provide. Can you talk to us a little bit about your, your story, your journey? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Yeah, so ⁓ it's kind of long one. When I was 14, I was involved in a motor vehicle accident and I ended up suffering a traumatic brain injury as well as I became an incomplete paraplegic. ⁓ And an incomplete paraplegic is where you are paralyzed but you're not getting paralyzed forever because there's your paralysis is just caused by swelling around your spinal column. So I was already kind of set back. I had previously been the quarterback, the jock, know, was for popular around my school and I was set back and high school was difficult for me and I did, however, get in touch with Voc Rehab through my doctor and he kind of gave me the spiel about what Voc Rehab can do. ⁓ I went and went through college and then got a job. Loved it. Struggled maintaining employment though, because I was just all over the place. and didn't know how to kind of deal with my new life, I guess. then one day I was working with a job coach and he kind of showed me the ropes and put me through this day center for autistic kids. And I absolutely fell in love with it. ⁓ They showed me so much about my life and I just loved it and I wanted to eventually do what he did, the Jot Gosh. ⁓ so now here I am. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Well, I think that's really special how you turned your own story into giving back to others. And particularly when, like you said, a lot of it came around to labor, and being able to ⁓ earn income for yourself. And that's what you've worked to develop. Can we talk a little bit about that time in your life and what it was like to transition into this new life as a result? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: ⁓ so... Like many people with disabilities, was 1920 receiving benefits. I didn't think I needed to really do anything. And I thought that's, this is my life. I want to give up and just stay here. You I have a nice one bedroom. apartment in Twin Falls, Idaho. ⁓ that, but it was, it was, I wasn't really fulfilled. ⁓ so when I got hooked up with Folk Rehab and I eventually did get a job, I was like, I was thrilled. had purpose, you know, I had something to look forward to. Unfortunately, at that time in my life, I wasn't ready. You know, I was still struggling with a lot of like things that I think most young adults struggle with. And that's just kind of being on your own, right? And then having money and then blowing the money and going insane. And then that's... I've always kept that in mind and it's reminded me to try and give back to people that are coming out of high school and I'm really excited. You know, when I meet somebody who I see as just like me or in similar circumstances and trying to help them not make the same mistakes I did, I mean, a lot. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Well, you talk about you and your, you're comfortably in your Twin Falls apartment. You were wanting to give up when was this, you're talking about being on disability. Were you working at this time? Are you only on disability? What it was? Like. Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Work was for me that that particular moment I was in college, I was in student government. was okay at that. And I was also trying to go to as many open mics as I could have. I, it all kind of fizzled out at once. And I was just really you know, lonely, bored, I don't know, all those, all those major feelings. Leigh/@followtheleighder: ⁓ and... I think too about, like you said, you're still involved. You're still going to things and that feeling of connection is in there. I guess, I'm sorry that you went through that chapter in your life. You said that you started to reach out and connect with resources. When did you feel like you started to have a community again? Did you have to build it or did find? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: The weird thing about community is I'm not... I'm not sure I really felt that until I came to Montana in 2020 and really just embraced people on kind of a more one-to-one basis. ⁓ I mean, in Idaho and other places I've lived, it's this. people are, they just don't get it. But in Montana, you know, it's either. that cowboy culture is so ingrained, right? And I think like helping somebody else when they're down, that's kind of what Montana is all about. And I love it. I've embraced it. And yeah, I just wanna look like that. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Well, and build and find community you have here in Montana. Like I said, I've run into Andrew quite a bit around town in different ways. People speak very highly of him. Can you talk about Electricity Opportunities and what that has unfolded like for you? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: So Electric City Opportunities is a community resource provider for Montana Vocational Rehabilitation Services. ⁓ I'm really bad at self-promotion, ⁓ but I am the only CRP in this half of great fall or this half of Montana that's certified in customized employment. ⁓ There's so many facets of employment, including barriers such as transportation, social security, ⁓ income, and limits around that. There's just the frank fact of how is this person going to do that? That's what I love is seeing those challenges or those barriers just go away. And that's, think that's what I wanted Electric City opportunities to be about. ⁓ I struggle, you know, trying to be an advocate more. And that's honestly what I would love to be is just be an advocate for the disability community full time. doesn't being an advocate alone won't pay the bills, right? So Electric City Opportunities is kind of like my way to, you know, be a unquote productive member of society. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Well, and it is. When did you start it? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: So I started Electric City Opportunities in 2024. It was kind of a weird time because I worked as an employment specialist in Helena and we had just bought a house in 23 in Great Falls and I was commuting a couple times a week. And that was, that was really hard on like my wife and you know, just me being away. So that ended, I guess, cause I, I just couldn't do it anymore. And it was, it was kind of a weird time cause I had to make money. So I was working here part time and eventually started, you know, doing what I love again. And, ⁓ yeah, was just not a little bit, a little bit tighter on money there for a bit. Leigh/@followtheleighder: As you said that you're the only CRP this side of Montana, what does that training look like? What does CRP mean? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: So CRP is, sorry, I get into these weird jargon thing. ⁓ CRP is, like I said, a community resource provider ⁓ for Montana Vocational Rehabilitation Services. There's a whole bunch of CRPs ⁓ to go with, whether it's QLC or Easter Seals for Employment. I don't know how you feel about either of those places, but there's been some positive and negative experiences ⁓ with them. yeah, I mean, so CRP essentially contracts with the state and says like, we are going to provide such and such service. I'm the only one with customized implement services that can be all good, which is really, really cool. ⁓ You know, it's the training for that is it's, it's kind of weird because it's Montana to be certified because of the rise of Plymouth is different, is different in the most states. We're following more of the Minnesota model, um, where I was, I didn't have to go through Mark Golden Associates to get it. I went through Sherry Reed Anderson, big shout out. She's awesome. And she trained me for gosh, forever. It feels like I'm just her little puppet. She's got me in her string. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Now you talk about, you mentioned some organizations earlier that people feel a certain type of way about. Can you talk about what some of the struggles that someone who is looking for services might encounter? How does that world work between an individual and the government? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: that's a really good question. So the first thing to do would be to go and apply for VR services. ⁓ And then from there, you'll sit down with your counselor. And this is kind of where you decide like you'll be shown and you'll talk about different programs and how you might fit personality wise. ⁓ I have really good relationship with the counselors because I am not a nonprofit. I'm actually a for-profit. So I don't have incentive to just look for jobs with you all the time. And I wanna get you working as quickly as possible. My target for myself is 30 days. So, yeah. I don't, I don't, it's not that I don't enjoy looking for jobs. do, but I, I just think, and I know from personal experience that that's counterproductive to be the end result, right? No, just want to be doing something. Want to be productive. We want to feel like we're part of a team. And that's, that's what I want you. If you're going with me to really feel is that we are, I'm going to get you to work and you are going to be a part of a great team with a great employer. I, there are so many great employers in great falls and they're all like good people, but there's just not enough awareness around like what qualified can actually do. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Well, and you talk about the different resources ⁓ and you talk about you, but if someone, you know, becomes disabled or is disabled, how, I'm sure they have a caretaker, an advocate who helps them with the processes. And then would the government then recommend someone like you to them or how would they find you? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Yeah. So again, good question. It'd be a lot easier if there were more advocates, right? That would step in and help, you know, people make informed decisions. But oftentimes there isn't ⁓ left with, you know, a parent who is biased in some way. ⁓ Right. That would be how they would make a decision, but... The government, if you're eligible for VR services, you know, your state rehabilitation counselor would kind of point you in one direction or another. Leigh/@followtheleighder: And then when they come to you, so they would come with their skill set, they would come with their abilities. How do you then help them with job? Do you do job interviewing? Do you do job placement? What do you, how do you help? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Yeah, so when I, I meet somebody all first, first time, you know, get or do an intake and we have to figure out kind of where you are. And this is where I've kind of really been reflecting and looking back. I've developed different intakes for like different situations, right? So if somebody has no previous travel experience. They're gonna go in this if somebody has maybe some work experiences but they haven't worked in a while and go in this. ⁓ all assist with, you know, whatever. that's whether that's setting up a trial work experience, maybe that's helping with interview prep, resume writing, you know, even just trying to get all of your thoughts down and create a map of kind of where you want to go. So long as as as it pertains to work. And then when somebody does get their job, that doesn't mean our relationship stops. It looks different for everybody, you know, sometimes I'm back at pizza ranch and I'm washing dishes or I might be shopping by the Albertsons bakery just to see hello, how are you? know, it's Is the boss being cool today? It's stuff like that. I think when somebody does get her job and they move on and we close our case, that feels to me like a little bird leaving the nest, you know? I'm just so proud. Leigh/@followtheleighder: How many clients have you worked with over the years? ⁓ Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: So I have worked with, so just for electricity opportunities, I've worked with over. I'm gonna say over 50, 50. Leigh/@followtheleighder: 50 lives you have made a huge difference on. Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Well, yeah, it's a domino effect, right? It's like you change somebody's perspective about one thing and then that leads to their boss, right? Having their whole paradigm change about the safety burgers. And then that boss might tell his buddy who owns like, I don't know, a go-kart ring in Missoula and he's like, Yeah, that's fine. You know, so it's it's that and that's where I like looking back enjoy kind of the impact I'm able to make is I'm able to you remember when those dominoes are gonna fall but they're gonna fall. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Can you talk about what it is like to work with other organizations to help your clients succeed? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: So that again, really good question. ⁓ Working with other organizations can be kind of tricky because all of our hearts are in it for the right reason, but Funding is the biggest thing, is nobody wants to give away their funding. Unless you're me, right? That's like, just not how I see success. And I think when you're talking about like having a job coach from one agency talking to your case manager at another agency and things, things kind of get a little dicey. great falls has a lot of aware case management. ⁓ but in July of next year, fingers crossed, they don't get their contract renewed because they aware just, they have this mindset of employment last and in Montana, we're trying to be employment first and employment first is Employment should be the first like targeted piece of services. ⁓ and people who are working are typically healthier. So that's just part of the, part of the, the puzzle, I guess, we're all trying to solve. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Well, I know that you have been doing some writing as well. recently were published. Can you talk? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Yeah, yeah, so I was, I was, I was published by the independent record. I wrote an op-ed. I attended the 2026 Disability Employment Summit and Helen, I was presented by DBHHS and Vocational Rehabilitation. There was, there were some great speakers and I was just absolutely amazed. Um, but all, all of the quote unquote progress that we've been able to make is at risk. Um, because politicians like, uh, Trump and June 4th day and you know, all the, all, I don't want to. point fingers, but all the, all, all the Republicans are trying to take away the funding. ⁓ VR is $2 million off ⁓ budget. And that's significantly benefited by the big, beautiful bill. You know, cause Yeah, doze or whatever. But no, that's not gonna stop me from doing what I'm doing. It's really just. Not cool, but they did. ⁓ And I really enjoyed, you know, the summit, but the one, the one thing that really got me upset was, ⁓ Kristen Juris, our Lieutenant Governor, opened the summit and she was saying, ⁓ my gosh, things are so great. And look at all of these wonderful, you know, stats. and we're so inclusive and I was there. So quick shout out to Chanel Marshall and Cassie Wells. Chanel works for CLS and Helena. Cassie works for Ability Montana and Butte, fantastic people. But us three were sitting at a table. all looked at each other and we just burst out laughing because Kristen is actively lobbying against section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act. And we were just like, if you want to make the case for section 504, I think you made it, you know? And she, why, or why we need it. And than to find out she's lobbying against it and trying to get, you know, all these funds taken away from youth. Section 504 is really about the youth and those that funny. So it just wasn't a good look. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Well, I know that this has been a tough year, like you said, with all the funding cuts. ⁓ And of course, being gas-lit by the people who did it doesn't help at all. We've talked a little bit about community organizing. Talk about this mutual aid projects you have on the horizon and what that looks like. Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Yeah, so at Electric City Opportunities, I have started a mutual aid. I don't know, section of Luna coffee bar with Matt Pippinich. ⁓ and I'm just really trying to help people get employment ready. ⁓ so that's, that's where I'm coming from this as, and that's, that's my marketing budget. so I can write it off in taxes. So he, he Trump, ⁓ Yeah. I, if you want to give to the mutual aid, you can put something on the shelf. Some mutual aid works best when we're all involved. We are looking to potentially get into other stores downtown, across town even. We also floated the idea of maybe feeding people by getting pre-cooked meals and putting them in a mini fridge adjacent to the meat-flavied shelf. So normally are you getting a full, like hopefully a full belly, but You can also grab some hand sanitizer or a water and go. Leigh/@followtheleighder: I think that's beautiful what y'all have done there at Luna and ⁓ continue to do in light of, like we said, policy and budgets ⁓ that don't support or humanize or uplift Montanans with disabilities. And particularly unique is your role in uplifting Montanans with disabilities towards work, too. ⁓ That is the right to work and labor. And I mean... Montana's know thing too about labor. We put a high value on that. And I really appreciate your advocacy towards allowing people to get that. That those just while we're on this topic about why labor and access to labor is so important. First of all, this whole idea of people are getting the right to work ⁓ is a bit of a misnomer because people have always had to work. What we're trying to say right to work is our conditions, wages. there's a lot, people have always worked. It was a matter of what they got paid and how they were treated and those things. ⁓ And so again, the folks in the disability community have always had to work and they have not always had the protections. Those who could work would have to work. ⁓ And so I thank you. Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Yeah. ⁓ if I didn't just kind of help raise awareness around one thing, it's the Montana human rights act. as you know, that was passed in, ⁓ 20 16, 20, 20 16. and Montana human rights act, has a lot of protections in there. And there's also the ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed in 1990, right? The ADA leaves kind of enough room for most things, but the Montana Human Rights Act ⁓ makes it super crystal clear. So please know your rights. I didn't know this and this, you know, so bad as a job developer, but I... wasn't aware that businesses with as many as one employee needed to at least have a fully engaged discussion about reasonable accommodations. ⁓ And reasonable accommodations are, that's kind of a hot button issue. Like most accommodations are, like zero dollars. We're just talking about a change in scheduling. ⁓ Might be talking about, you know, having the ability to sit and stand. Having a standing desk. Those are all things that are relatively cheap and they shouldn't mean... you can't work somewhere because you can't like you might need an accommodation. Yeah, if I can just go off, it's really it's made me made my personal blood boil because this government doesn't believe in diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility. DEIA is why, you know, we have keyboards, why keyboards were invented. DEIA is why Microsoft stock is over $400. DEIA has made it possible, you know, for people to prosper. And as a government, you're going to say, no, we don't believe in that anymore. that delivering. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Thank you so much for coming by today. ⁓ If folks want to support, donate, or follow or work with you, what's the best way for them to learn more about you? Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: So we are on Facebook. I'm not sure what my name is, but if you just search Electric City Opportunities, you'll find us. ⁓ If you search Google for Electric City Opportunities, you'll find us. ⁓ Yeah. If you see me on the street, know, pull me aside. You can always have a chat with somebody. Leigh/@followtheleighder: Absolutely. Well, Andrew, it has been an absolute pleasure having you by today. Thank you. You are such a wealth of information and passion. And I really hope you come back to continue talking about we haven't even touched on corruption or all the icky stuff because we're just so focused on the good works you did. And we should. There's a lot of bad news out there and we need to name those harms. We also need to celebrate when things are moving forward. So thank you. Andrew Johnson, Electric City Opportunities: Thank you so much for having me. Leigh/@followtheleighder: So folks, let me know what you thought of this conversation down in the comments. Don't forget to like, follow and subscribe. You know the drill. This has been another episode of Follow the Leighder. I'm your host, Leigh Larson And until next time, see ya.