TOM CONNELLY: Sucess stories continue with vocational-rehabilitation support services

Three more GVRA (Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency) clients have been successfully rehabilitated in Southwest Georgia, thanks in large part due to the efforts of the Albany VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) office. Dewitt Lockett, Richard Smith and Jocelyn Covin all faced difficulties finding work or preparing for it due to their disabilities, but thanks to the assistance of their agency-provided Certified Rehabilitation Counselors and their teams, they are now gainfully employed.

Mr. Lockett, a client of Albany ARC, was working at PowerWorks, but wanted to work elsewhere. As a result, he was put on caseload of Marnette Wilson, CRC. After interviewing the client, Ms. Wilson provided or arranged for Mr. Lockett to receive the following services: counseling and guidance, job search, job placement, and job follow-up, as well as a criminal records background check. Then, Employment Consultant Andrew Hughlett assisted Mr. Lockett in completing an application at client’s preferred business, Walmart Neighborhood Market.

After this, Mr. Hughlett made arrangements with the manager of Walmart so that, if his position was not a good fit, Mr. Lockett could return to his old position at PowerWorks.

At the Walmart store, Mr. Lockett works as a janitor/parking lot attendant. His responsibilities include keeping the interior of the store clean, maintaining a clean parking lot, retrieving carts from the lot and pushing them into the building so customers can access them easily.

Mr. Lockett works 25 hours a week. This young man is very satisfied with his job and thanks VR, Ms. Wilson and Mr. Hughlett for making it possible for him to work at Walmart. As he recently stated, he would “gladly recommend VR to anyone who has a disability who is seeking employment. “

Mr. Smith became a client of the agency when, as a student of Georgia Southern University, he learned that GVRA could be of assistance to him in his efforts to prepare for and to obtain gainful employment. He was served by Latronda Rogers, CRC. Ms. Rogers provided him with seven services, including tuition, books and supplies, student fees, medical records and job follow-up.

Mr. Smith currently works full time as a scanning monitor at a Giant Food store in Pennsylvania. He was very satisfied with the services he received from Ms. Rogers and his experience with the agency. Because of this, Mr. Smith would gladly recommend GVRA to anyone with a disability who is seeking employment.

Ms. Covin applied for VR services after some opportunities were not realized and she needed assistance locating employment. She received 12 services from her CRC, Eugenia Young, in her journey to become gainfully employed. Among this list were job readiness training, work adjustment training, job placement services and supports, job placement and retention, and ongoing support.

Ms. Covin was very satisfied with the services she received from the agency, and thanks Ms. Young for helping her obtain gainful employment. Ms. Covin works works at Old Navy as a sales associate 2-3 days a week, for a total of 10-12 hours a week. In this capacity, she assists customers, as well as helps to keep the store clean. Ms. Covin also secured a job at Cheddars on the weekends. At this location, she works 15 hours a week, busing tables.

Tom Connelly is a public affairs specialist with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. This is the last in a series of weekly guest columns for National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.