How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a happy, engaged, live in the moment kind of person.
What is your biggest accomplishment?
My biggest accomplishment is owning Wanna Do Herbs, doing something I enjoy, and watching other people enjoy my herb/lavender related products.
Have you read any good books?
I have enjoyed having the Harry Potter books read to me.
Who is your personal hero?
My heros and cheerleaders are my parents and brother, they create a path to make sure that I have a rewarding, successful and fulfilling life. At times it may be difficult for me to express my thoughts and feelings, they know me well enough to help me through those times. It is difficult for me to verbalize the things that I may want or need, they help me by creating ways for me to choose, giving me a feeling of self-worth and independence.
Do you have a life philosophy that you live by?
Never rush through life. If there’s a cool cloud formation to look at, stop and spend the time to look at it. If I want to stop and share something I would like to say or share, I hope you too will stop to listen.
What do you like most about yourself?
My independence and ability to choose. The ability to be independent in my own apartment, with support, makes me feel good about myself. I also feel good when I can help others with tasks or when I have choices.
If you could change the world, what would you change?
I’d like more people to know that non-speaking people with autism are smart, we understand everything, and process everything. We just do it on our own time, terms and in our own way.
What do you think is the meaning of life?
To care for people and have people who care for me.
Do you prefer working alone, or do you like working with others?
I love working with my job coach at MARC Mt. Horeb, Lisa Swenson. She has been at my side for over a decade. She encourages me and cheers me on. And we have fun together.
What’s something that no one would guess about you?
I appreciate subtle humor.
What is your deepest belief about life?
Don’t let it pass you by. Appreciate things that deserve to be appreciated and take the time to appreciate them.
If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?
Next to the ocean in California, near where my uncle lives.
If you could be doing anything, anywhere right now, what and where would it be?
I would go to every concert, musical play, and UW Madison band concert I could. But being in crowds is not easy for me, so my parents and I have to be choosy.
What’s the one thing you wish you could have a do-over for?
I wish I could have another personal concert. The band Pure Prairie League sings my favorite song, “Amie.” I know the tune by heart and can say my name perfectly. I’ve been singing this song since I was little. Last summer, the band performed a personal two song concert just for me, including “Amie.” I’d like to do that over again.
How do you work on yourself?
I have come to rely on my dolls to help me overcome things that are difficult for me. If things are modeled on my dolls first, I can see what is going to happen and I can tolerate those things better. For example, I can cooperate with my doctor to get my blood pressure taken or my heart checked if I see it happen on my dolls first. I have also learned deep breathing techniques that help me when I get anxious.
What’s one thing you’ve had to overcome in your life?
Being viewed as “less than” or not smart, just because I have limited language.
How do you handle being in a bad mood?
I seek alone time for a short time, and then I am ready to rejoin the world.
Who is the most important person in your life?
I have lots of important people in my life. My parents, my brother, my cousins, my support providers, my friends and staff at MARC, Lisa – my job coach, and people in the community who care about me.
What did you learn about yourself from any of your previous relationships?
I learned that even though I have limited spoken language, I can still have conversations and relationships with others. We do this in laughter, sounds, the words I do use, and spending time with each other.
What question do you always want people to ask you about yourself?
How am I doing? When I see someone that I connect with the first thing that I say in response to that question is “good.” In return they will ask me how I am, then I get to find out how they are. My friends and family are very important to me.
What is your favorite music? What is your all time favorite song?
“Amie” by Pure Prairie League. But I also love “Rock Around the Clock” and lots of other songs and types of music, everything from classical to rock.
If you weren’t here running your business or doing the work you do, what would you be doing instead?
I would be doing something that involved music, babies and animals — all the time.
What is another name you would give the Driftless?
Beautiful.
What is your favorite season in the Driftless & why?
I like the fall because the clouds are much more interesting, colorful, and vivid than at other times of year. And, no matter where you live in the Driftless, you have a great view of the sky in fall and in any other season.
Tell us of an experience /memory you had with Driftless lakes, rivers or waterways?
I have gone paddle boating at Yellowstone, and that was great fun. The little Sugar River also flows through New Glarus and I can see it right behind my apartment!
Is there any place in the world you have been that reminds you of, or is similar to the Driftless?
There is only one Driftless.
What is your best childhood memory?
Growing up here. My childhood home has a great view and so does my apartment. I loved growing up living near nature. I always enjoyed seeing wild turkeys, pheasants, and deer right outside my family’s dining room window. And I can see cows off in the near distance, outside my apartment patio doors! I especially enjoy them and always alert my support providers they are there by saying “mooo!”
What are some of your favorite places to go for fun here in the Driftless?
I like Lake Belle View in Belleville, WI because I like to watch the fun water activities.
What are some of your favorite places to eat here in the Driftless
Well, I’m always a fan of Culver’s. But I also enjoy Vince’s in Monroe, WI and Sugar River Pizza in New Glarus, WI.
If you were to tell a friend to come and visit the Driftless Area, and they ask “Why” … What would you tell them?
It’s beautiful and takes your breath away.
Are you a Cat or Dog person?
Dog
Are you an Early Bird or Late Owl?
Neither, I’ll stick with Monkey
If given the opportunity, would you go to outerspace (moon, mars, space stations)?
No
What color socks are you currently wearing?
Every day is a new color and design. Today, my socks have colorful heartbeat monitor lines on them. I like quirky socks. And I usually show them off to everyone I can.
What skill or instrument would you like to learn or play?
I took piano lessons my whole life until Covid. I would like to be better at piano.
What was your very first job?
My first “job” was to help with things at New Glarus High School, like shredding paper and wiping tables in the lunchroom. My second job was to open my own business, Wanna Do Herbs, with MARC (Madison Area Rehabilitation Centers) Mt. Horeb’s and my job coach’s help and support!
If any, what would be your dream job?
I have a job I really like.
How / where did you meet your best friend?
In grade school.
What does your dream vacation look like?
To get to the ocean instantaneously. I don’t enjoy airports or crowds, so I’m not sure how I will get there again.
If you could learn another language, what would that be?
I would like more people to learn MY language! I sometimes use “code words” to stand for many things or express many thoughts. That is because my language is limited, so “milk” might stand for milk or juice or water. To me, milk just means something to drink. My language is much more efficient than everyone else’s! Wouldn’t it be easier for people to use fewer words to get the same idea across, like I do? It’s much more efficient, and leaves more time for the important things. I find it curious that most people don’t understand the benefit of talking less!
So, what’s your story? Where were you born? How long have you been here in the Driftless, What keeps you here?
I was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and moved to Waunakee, WI when I was 4. I have lived in New Glarus, WI for the past 25 years, graduated from New Glarus High School, and live here now.
Tell us about what you do for work or your business, and how long have you been doing this?
When I was getting ready to graduate to the transition program at New Glarus High School, my parents, teachers and speech therapist helped me think about what I liked to do. I enjoyed doing helpful things at school, but I really like nature the best. I have always spent time watching my parents in their garden. I have always spent time helping my parents plant and harvest their gardens. I enjoy dropping onion bulbs and seeds into the ground, and love to watch things grow. I love smelling flowers and things that grow.
When given the opportunity to do something I like and that motivates me, I get excited and say, “I wanna do.” My teachers noticed that when at school, I often said “I wanna do” when a task involved plants. So, school and I worked with my expected vocational service provider, MARC Mt. Horeb, WI to help me set up my own micro-enterprise upon graduation from high school. I also worked with Wisconsin DVR (Department of Vocational Rehabilitation) to help pay for my logo, promotional materials, and initial supplies and packaging materials.
Early on, I decided I wanted to work with lavender. I like how it smells. It is calming. I like working with my hands. I like to stir, mix, and package things. I like to see my finished product. I like to see how people react to it. I take pride in showing off my product.
Since 2018, I have been producing many different products – sachets, car fresheners, soaps, hand sanitizers, linen sprays, lip balm, wax melts, dryer bags, bathtub tea bags, and bath bombs. I have even produced bath bombs shaped like Bucky Badger, who is a big favorite of mine. I have an Etsy page and sell my products at Jangle Natural Living in downtown Mt. Horeb, WI. I sell at some local markets too.
Tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career with your business.
I am a big fan of babies and baby dolls. I am really proud that my biggest customer is the Unity Point Health-Meriter Hospital. They featured me on their Facebook page, and they said this about me and Wanna Do Herbs:
“UnityPoint Health – Meriter is a proud partner of Wanna Do Herbs, providing Amy’s lavender sachets to patients through our Antepartum Comfort Kits, Pregnancy & Infant Loss Program and Fresh Beginnings Program. As [we watched] Amy [pack] these sachets that will help calm parents and infants with complications in our hospital, she held her baby doll close to her; Amy has a special place in her heart for babies, so the stars really aligned with our partnership.
While tearing up, Lisa [Swenson – Amy’s job coach] emphasized that, “starting this business has been so powerful for Amy. I’ve seen her find her true passion and gain independence – I can’t express enough how she truly goes to her happy place while packing her orders.”
We’re constantly making things better, faster, smarter or less expensive. We leverage technology or improve processes. In other words, we strive to do more—with less. Tell us about a recent project or problem that you made better, faster, smarter, more efficient, or less expensive.
When I first started my business, some of my labels were hand made and done by my job coach. Although it did help my business my products did not look uniform. Over time we were able to get all the labels printed off so that it took less time to put on the product and made the items look professional. As a result, it made my products and packaging look beautiful. It made me feel proud, especially because the packaging has a professional sketch of my face holding a lavender plant!
Tell us about one person that you’ve met, that stands apart from the rest, or has influenced you while here in the Driftless.
My job coach, Lisa Swenson, believed in me from the beginning. So does MARC Program Director Kim Watrud, and all of the staff who work with me to help support my business. Just about everyone at MARC Mt. Horeb live in the Driftless too!
Lisa pushes me to build up my work tolerance. She works with me to create new and exciting products. She sits right at my side while I work, and helps me with the parts that are harder for me. She encourages me and cheers me on. She helps market and deliver my products. When I’m not busy with my herbs and am doing other things at MARC and sometimes start to get overwhelmed, she encourages me to move to my production area and work with my lavender. She knows how much it calms me and makes me feel more balanced. It makes me feel good to know someone believes in me.
What do you wish other people knew about you or your business?
I wish they knew that I would love to offer my products in more retail settings and that they smell really good!
By: Amy Oemichen
Note: This questionnaire was prepared by Amy’s mom and Lisa Swenson, Amy’s job coach at MARC Mt. Horeb, based on what she tells us every day about these questions – with her language, with her actions, and with her emotions and enthusiasm. We do this with Amy’s permission, and have done our best to accurately reflect what she tells us daily with her words, actions, and emotions. (Amy has autism and has limited spoken language, but she is very opinionated about the world around her!)
