Few people can excel in everything they do, but James Henson is one of a kind.  At the Middletown Center, James is recognized as one of the fastest and strongest workers around. 

“He is a very hard and motivated worker who is also depended upon to do some of the most difficult jobs,” said Julie Kilgore, Behavior Specialist.  “He is driven to make money and this means working as efficiently as possible. He takes a lot of pride in doing his job and doing it well.”

Jobs such as building pressure washing guns, banding skids, and using the eyelet machine require precision and hand-eye coordination.  James is trusted to do the most challenging work because he rarely ever makes an error.

 “Every machine we have, he can operate,” said Brenda Tolson, James’ trainer at Middletown Center.  James is also known for his speed, building up to 100 pressure washing guns a day.

When he has a break from his work, James can be spotted giving a hand to other individuals who need assistance.  He even uses sign language to communicate with those who cannot communicate verbally.

“He has a heart of gold and wants to see others succeed. He is not only a great advocate for himself but for others as well,” Kilgore said.

Outside of the Middletown Center, James shows his talents and independence in other aspects of life.  He lives with his parents and uses the money he earns to pay rent and other expenses.  He enjoys challenging his father to a bowling match, though he says his high score of 190 has not been enough to beat his father’s best game.  He also enjoys working on cars and would like to have a job in the community in the mechanical field.

Most recently, James has been recognized by Visionaries and Voices for his artistic skill. 

“Little did we know that he was such a talented artist, until one day he brought in a picture he painted of a woman in a hat.  The picture was put on display and was bought by an admirer,” said Jim Burns, Middletown Center Supervisor. 

James hopes to have an art show to increase sales after he begins working in the Visionaries and Voices studio in Cincinnati. 

“James continues to grow as an artist and is a valued member of Middletown Center,” Burns said. 

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