The managers at Old Chicago joke around with Fenton Parke and he jokes right back with them as he is pulling down chairs, setting up menus and laying out silverware in the dining room.

Parke, who turns 32 today, in charge of making sure the dining room is ready for customers and works about 15 hours a week. When he first came to work at the restaurant on Second Street, he didn't know if he would be able to joke around or even handle the job.

More than a year and a half ago, Parke started his job at Old Chicago and came in with his job coach from NOWCAP Services, an organization that provides a variety of services to individuals with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries.

"It was hard when I started," Parke said. "I didn't know what they were expecting."

With the help of his job coach and some coworkers who believed in him, Parke has grown into a valuable employee at the restaurant and integrated more fully into the Casper community.

Old Chicago was recognized this week as a Casper business that supports people with developmental disabilities in the workplace. It is one of several businesses that partners with NOWCAP to give people with disabilities meaningful jobs.

NOWCAP has a community employment program where job development specialists work with clients to match them up to an appropriate job in the community. A number of NOWCAP's clients are ready for this transition and if they are not ready, NOWCAP works with them to give them the skills they might need to eventually be able to work in the community.

Lisa Hulshizer, development coordinator at NOWCAP, said Old Chicago is a great partner because it offers different types of jobs than fast food restaurants can. She said Old Chicago gives Parke much more confidence by giving him the responsibility of the entire dining room.

"It's not all about the paycheck," Hulshizer said. "It's about feeling included and participating in everyday life."

Parke has become comfortable with his colleagues and said the job comes easy now.

The restaurant's general manager, Paul Case, said it is not all laughs and jokes for Parke because he is also a very hard worker.

He said Parke is reliable and comes in on time every morning from Monday to Friday. Parke also takes pride in his work.

With the work force shortages the city has, Case said it can be difficult to find any employees let alone employees who show up to work on time every day and want to be there.

"There is a misconception that we are doing NOWCAP a favor," Case said. "It's nice to have someone solid here."

Sven George, director of operations at the Parkway Plaza Hotel, said the same of the three employees from NOWCAP who work at the hotel.

One of them has been there for nine years and helps a maid clean rooms. Another vacuums the lobby and the rooms and the newest employee washes windows. They work about 20 to 25 hours a week.

He said the hotel definitely "gets its money worth" with NOWCAP employees because they do such a good job.

"We just have to be strategic in where we place them making sure it is something they can do," George said. "They are excellent and we hold them to the same standards as all employees."

Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@casperstartribune.net.