Over the past 14 years, Shanna Berrian has furthered Quest, Inc.’s mission of helping individuals with developmental disabilities experience a full life. No matter the role, she has embodied our core values — helping people, respecting people and taking pride in her work.
An Inspiring Transition to Quest
Before joining Quest, Shanna worked as a medical assistant. While exploring new career paths, her commitment to the field deepened when her sister developed a disability after suffering a massive stroke.
When the opportunity arose, she joined Quest as a direct support professional at our group home, Laurel Hill. As a DSP, she provided personal care, ensured safety and maintained a healthy environment for the individuals Quest serves.
“When I started working here, I learned how to take care of people that were disabled, especially through direct care, because that was the part my family didn’t know about. I learned as much as possible to go back and care for my sister,” Shanna says.
Becoming an Advocate Through Everyday Experiences
Her dedication quickly earned her a promotion to program specialist, where she expanded her skills to master physical therapy and nonverbal communication. Understanding the significance of body language allowed her to connect with individuals who could not always verbally communicate their needs. Three years later, her experiences would help her as she learned she was expecting her first child.
“My baby was born while I was working here at Quest, and that prepared me for being a mother of a son with autism,” Shanna says. “The people reminded me, ‘you can do this, you do this every day.'”
Leading Change at the Adult Training Center
Shanna’s experience with her sister and son reminds her daily of the importance of understanding, respecting and advocating for individuals with developmental disabilities. Her success in this area led her to Quest’s Adult Training Center in Apopka as a program coordinator.
The training center champions customized skill development, and Shanna worked with programming staff to ensure that individuals received the recreational and life-skills development opportunities they desired. She soon advanced to training coordinator, responsible for training others in direct care practices from nutrition management to physical care.
Shanna says it’s remarkable to see how the team’s ability to provide a supportive environment where client choice is a priority has allowed them to break out of their shells and engage with the world.
“Everybody genuinely wants to ensure we serve our individuals properly,” she says. “We want to ensure they promote independence and experience the best life possible. That’s our culture here.”
Promoting Independence and Client Engagement
Always remembering the “why” behind the work, Shanna eagerly steps into her new role as staffing and operations coordinator at the training center. She will assist staff, ensure strong client engagement and facilitate program acquisitions while overseeing support plans and individual programs.
“Shanna is what we call reliable and flexible. She is willing to do anything you need and will go above and beyond for these clients. Her number one priority is the health and welfare of the clients, making sure they are happy,” says Latanya Thompson, director of Quest’s Training Center in Apopka.
We congratulate Shanna on her new role and appreciate her commitment to Quest’s mission, vision and values. For more information about our training centers, visit Training Centers – Quest, Inc.
