New Job to New Life: Jared Pinegar Navigates Guardianship, Nails AbilityOne Program Job

 After more than two decades of personal and professional accomplishments, Jared Pinegar wants to use his skills and experiences to help other people with disabilities in similar situations. Pinegar is well-known across Beacon Group, an AbilityOne® federal contractor in SourceAmerica's network. Since 2003, Pinegar has worked in just about every job the organization has to offer leading him to a job he loves on an AbilityOne Program contract and an independence in his personal life that once seemed out of reach. 

For the first 15 years at Beacon Group, Pinegar worked in a mix of center-based and group supported employment in Tucson, Arizona. As Pinegar puts it, "I was still learning the jobs, growing up and stuff in my 20s but as I got older, I got more mature, and got like a lot more work ethic."

Growth and experience have been vital to his success and not just on the job. Pinegar learned new skills that also helped him during a tumultuous time in his personal life. While under a guardianship, Pinegar says he was continually told what he can't do because of his disabilities. Pinegar was ready to take steps to gain his independence.

It took great courage for Pinegar to speak up for himself. He began the process to petition the courts to become his own legal guardian and worked with his support team, hired a lawyer, and educated himself on the legal process. In 2020, Pinegar won the fight for guardianship. He left his previous situation in Tucson behind and moved to Phoenix to live with his father. Pinegar also made the decision, his decision, to continue working for Beacon Group. It is the best decision he's ever made, because he says his father is the first person to give him a safe and stable environment and encourage him to live up to his best potential. 

Beacon Group management was also excited about Pinegar's decision because they got to keep such an experienced worker. They offered Pinegar several different work opportunities in Phoenix including custodial, landscaping, and production jobs at different locations. These opportunities led him to another significant job offer to perform landscaping and custodial duties on Beacon Group's AbilityOne contract at the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse.

Due to his maturity, growth, and employment skill set, Pinegar has excelled in his new position. He did so well that Beacon Group invited Pinegar to train others in Tucson on how to use the hydro window brush—a window washing brush attached to a power washer that extends 40 feet.

"Jared has made huge strides in his employment with Beacon Group," says his supervisor, Greg Teske. "He does great work and gets along well with all of the staff—they've really accepted him."

Beacon Group is tremendously proud of Pinegar's accomplishments and work ethic. He is a testament to the Beacon Mission, and they are honored to have him.

A little advice from Pinegar, "There is no excuse not to work. I mean, everybody could do something, nobody could do everything. So no matter who it is, anybody can do some kind of work."

Now, Pinegar is looking to use his new skills and experience in another way. He attended SourceAmerica's 2024 Grassroots Self-Advocacy Conference which inspired him to use his experience as a self-advocate in his guardianship case to help others. Pinegar wants to be a voice for others in similar, difficult guardianship situations. His experience can help them achieve their own independence and he can be a mentor for people as they make transitions to self-guardianship.

If you or someone you know is looking for a job, the SourceAmerica Job Board connects people with disabilities seeking employment with positions available through nonprofit agencies in the SourceAmerica network.