Vocational Rehabilitation Shares Success Story as Disability Employment Awareness Month Concludes
Englewood, FL (PRWEB) October 31, 2013 -- Ben Davis searched for a job for over three years, before learning about Vocational Rehabilitation and finding success as a dressing room attendant at the Rialto Goodwill.
Ben enjoys talking to the customers and helping them with their clothing choices. He is also 80 percent deaf in both ears, is legally blind without his glasses, and has an organic brain injury that occurred when he was born prematurely. Regardless, that doesn’t stop him from working hard and continuously putting a smile on everyone’s face that he encounters.
Ben’s Vocational Rehabilitation story starts with VR Counselor, Canada West, who saw the determination in him and knew that Morgan Howell, a job coach with Loveland, would be the perfect person to help him find that elusive job. Morgan then mentored Ben on how to act in the workplace, one of the reasons Ben had not been able to hold on to a job in the past, and taught him the ins and outs of the city’s transportation system.
Ben was then brought to Goodwill where he tried numerous positions before finding the perfect fit as the dressing room attendant ¬ aka fashion consultant ¬ where he has successfully worked since March 2012. When asked about his favorite part of his job, Ben replies honestly, “I like lunch time and pay day.” But he quickly adds, “I also like talking to the ladies and making them smile.”
This success story doesn’t just end with employment; Ben’s first goal after he got a job was to get his driver’s license and buy a car, which he completed both, within just eight months.
“Canada, Morgan and the team at Vocational Rehabilitation are proud to see Ben and many others thriving at their jobs,” said Aleisa McKinlay, Director of Vocational Rehabilitation. “During Disability Employment Awareness Month it’s important to spread the word about our services and that there are tons of success stories out there just like Ben’s.”
People with disabilities in search of employment, vendors and Florida employers who are interested in taking part of this uplifting and gratifying experience, are encouraged to contact VR at (800) 451-4327.
About Vocational Rehabilitation:
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a federal-state program that helps people who have physical or mental disabilities get or keep a job. VR is committed to helping people with disabilities find meaningful careers. Our employer-focused website, http://www.FLJobConnections.com, allows businesses to search at no charge for employees who are ready to go to work, as well as to post available jobs. VR has 80 offices across Florida, and last year helped 6,523 Floridians with significant disabilities find or keep a job. For more information about VR and its services, call (800) 451-4327 or visit http://www.Rehabworks.org.
Rachel Smith, Vocational Rehabilitation, http://rehabworks.org, +1 (850) 245-3415, [email protected]
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