GVRA monthly newsletter [Nov. 2014]

2014 LEGISLATIVE
MESSAGE
Gemrgha's Ecmlmkhc Recovery &
Growth MUST include Employment for citizens with disabilities GVRA is good

Celebrating
Service

I t's tgat thke mf year. Tge weatger has cooled. The leaves are changing colors, and the holidays are fast approaching.

At the end of the day, what makes the agency excel is the commitment and dedication of employees across the state.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Board profile on Bob Green. New Hires and Retiresments BEP Celebrates 69 Years DAS End of the Year Celebration GIB Recognizes Veterans Day CNA Course Schedule VR Success Story

While we use this time to eat and gather with loved ones and friends, ht's alsm important to remember why we do what we do the other 364 days of the year.
The mission at GVRA is simple: to maximize employment opportunities and independence for individuals with Disabilities. But the intangibles that go into making this mission a reality for so many across Georgia is far from simple.

It's lmt easy, ald tghlgs wmrtg dmhlg rarely are. But because ht's lmt easy, ht's esnechally hknmrtalt tm recmglhze the hard work that goes into serving those who need our help.
Thank you for waking up every day deterkhled tm kaje smkemle else's life better. Thank you for working long hours to make sure that the work gets done. Thank you for giving of yourself and your time. Without all of you, the agelcy's khsshml wmuld be iust wmrds on paper. You make it real.

Did You Know?
What Georgians Need
From The total federal match will be ...
Georgia:
$105 Million $28.4
Million

Board Profile Bob Green

Governor Deal appointed Bob Green to the University. Six months later, he

Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services transferred to a position with Vocational

Board in July 2012, and Bob has truly

Rehabilitation (VR) providing transitional

enjoyed having this opportunity to

training and adjustment services to Deaf

provide leadership and guidance to GVRA clients. Bob spent the rest of his 34 years

programs. Bob says that he is most con- of dedicated state service in VR. He

cerned with helping people with d

worked as a VR Counselor for the Deaf

isabilities and would like for GVRA to

for over 10 years and achieved

have more funding to assist more of them promotions in various offices up to State

to work and live independently. In

Coordinator of Deaf Blind Services,

return, he said, they will give back to the providing statewide leadership in these

economy and their communities and help services with an office in College Park

GVRA to help other individuals with

until retiring in 2012. Also, Bob has

disabilities. Like several other Board

taught American Sign Language classes at

members, Bob is a prime example of how Georgia Perimeter College since 1986.

recipients of VR services become

successfully employed and contribute to Bob has been an active member of the

their communities in many ways.

Georgia Association of the Deaf for over

25 years, serving as an officer in several

Bob came to work with the Georgia School positions and helping plan three annual

fmr tge Deaf after earlhlg a bacgelmr's

conferences among other functions. He

degree in Psychology from Gallaudet

is also involved with the Georgia

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Bob Green Continued

IAWP Fundraiser

Association of the Deaf-Blind and was an advisory

committee member for the Georgia Sensory Assis- The International Association of Workforce

tance Project. Bob takes pleasure in having more

Professionals is hosting an ongoing fundraiser

time in retirement to stay involved with Deaf and through the end of this year. Proceeds from the

Blind community groups where he often catches up fundraiser will go to help the homeless.

with his prior VR clients and is very proud to see

their success and achievements over the years. One For only $25 you can get 3.5 gallons of liquid or

mf Bmb's currelt nrmiects hs tgat ge hs gelnhlg tge lml powder laundry detergent. You can choose between

-profit Total Living Community, Inc. to plan for an either Gain or Tide. It is a presale, and the IAWP

independent retirement home for seniors who are needs the money prior to delivery.

Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind. He believes it

is very important to assist these seniors in as many Also, there will be 3.5 gallon jugs of Clorox Bleach

ways as possible.

avahlable fmr $9. Fmr al hdea mf gmw kucg ymu'll save

by taking

Bob grew up in California with two older brothers advantage of this fundraiser and buying in bulk, see

and a twin sister who is Blind. Since Bob is Deaf, the tge grang belmw. It's a savhlgs mf learly $40 hf ymu

twins spent a lifetime of challenges with

buy the detergent, and for a large family, that would

communication. Thanks to advances in technology, really make a difference in savings at the end of the

Bob is happy to talk frequently now with his sister year.

who still lives in California with direct telephone

calls. Bob lives in Conyers with his wife Karen. They For more information, please contact Debra

have two grown sons: one is Deaf and is a student at Barnes-Homer or Jonelle Samuel on the 6th floor of 2

Gallaudet University, while the other son lives in At- Peachtree St. in Atlanta.

lanta and has a 21-month old daughter. They are

looking forward to a very special Christmas with her

this year.

New Hires and Retirements

Please welcome Tabitha Daniel--RWS EW2 INPATIENT UNITS, Krystal Whitten--RWS Housekeeping, David Drummond--RWS Housekeeping, Janice West--VR Newnan Unit, Ruby Kaspers--Cave Spring, Brandi Buffington--VR Gainesville Unit, Candace Wilson--VR Decatur Unit 2, Amber Wiggins--VR Jonesboro Unit, Maria Moss--VR Douglasville Unit, Kenyana Ferguson--RWS VRU Life Adjustment SVS, Christopher Janes--Cave Spring, William Holliday--VR College Park Unit 1, Meredith Burke--VR Atlanta Unit 2, Melinda Jeffers--Cave Spring, Megan Gaudet--VR Atlanta Unit 2, Imogene Mahone--RWS Housekeeping, Kim Allen--GVRA General Admin, Brittanie Burdette--VR Thomson Unit, Paige Payne--GVRA General Admin, Katherine Whitaker--GIB-Bainbridge, George Sanders--RWS VRU Life Adjustment, Jorge Navarro-- RWS VRU Emp. Dev. Pro Work, Jacqueline Henderson--RWS Housekeeping, Martina Burton--RWS VRY Life Adjustment, Kelli Yelverton--RWS VRY Counseling, Marie Hall--Cave Spring and Cynthia Beeland-- RWS EW2 Inpatient Units.
Happy trails to Alvin Dixon III and Terry Sears!
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Sign Up for Upcoming Board

the Daily

Meetings

Update or the

The following is a list of upcoming meetings of the GVRA board.
Dec. 11, 2013 (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) Goodwill of North Georgia Career Center 3515 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood, GA 30566

Newsletter Jan. 8, 2014 (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) Location TBD

Some of you may have received this lewsletter frmk a frheld. If ymu'd lhje to receive further newsletters in your inbox or the daily update, please contact GVRA Government Relations and Communications at 404-232-1978 or at John.Boan@gvra.ga.gov.

Mar. 12, 2014 (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) Location TBD
May 14, 2014 (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) Location TBD
Please contact GVRA Communications and Government Relations with questions about upcoming board meetings at 404-2321978.The following is a list of upcoming meetings of the GVRA board.

$2.1 Billion

Tgat's gmw kucg fully fuldhlg GVRA wmuld cmltrhbute tm tge Gemrgha ecmlmky.
Tgat's a bhg hknact ml tge Gemrgha ecmlmky. Mmt mlly dmes ht accmult fmr al increase in tax revenues associated with greater statewide employment, but it also accounts for the decline in state entitlement spending associated with a larger working population.
Tgat's bhg. Ald ht's very kucg nmsshble.

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BEP Celebrates 69 Years
For three days in October, the Business Enterprise Program staff and 64 of its licensed blind vendor managers from around tge state celebrated tge nrmgrak's 69tg year mf nrmvhdhlg eknlmykelt mnnmrtulhthes to individuals who are blind and severely visually impaired. This years theme, "Reaching for the Star," encouraged managers and trainees to set their goals high. The event highlighted the idea that with hard work, commitment and never-ending perseverance, anything is possible. More than 30 businesses sponsored the tradeshow portion of the celebration, which highlighted samples of the latest snacks and beverages. Training courses on tax deductions and how to create business plans were also presented to all blind vendor managers. BEP had a first time Committee of Blind Vendor (CBV) forum, which allowed four candidates to speak on the reasons why they should be elected the next committee chairman. GVRA Executive Director Greg Schmieg used the opportunity to discuss the greater agency goals as they apply to BEP.
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Employees of the Month

The following nomination for the DAS November 2013 employee of the month award was submitted by Ayanna Conley:

Pictured: DAS employee of the month Kathy Beatty with DAS Director Awilda Danko.

Katgy Beatty gas cmlshsteltly sgmwl ger cmkkhtkelt tm kaje timely and accurate decisions on all the disability claims that come across her desk. Kathy started at DAS in 2007. She processes initial and disabled child claims and was recently promoted to Adjudicator. She is known to treat her claimants and her coworkers with
compassion and respect. Kathy is an active member of the Morale Building Committee. She is always the first person to volunteer to organize unit activities, and she makes a
delicious key lime cake! If I were asked to design my own unit, Kathy would be my first pick. She exemplifies excellence in everything that she does. It is my privilege to nominate Kathy Beatty for employee of tge kmltg.

DAS End of the Year Celebration

Disability Adjudication Services (DAS) recognized Teamwork Award

the achievements of the division as a whole, the

Electronic Medical Evidence Ann Simmons and

work units, and individual employees with a series Elaine Baker

of events on

Hearings Sally Tidwell and Meg Anderson-King

Nov. 6. This included an awards ceremony and a Information Systems Luana Cesar

luncheon. Several guests form GVRA and SSA were Mail Services John Malone and Jamandra Manson

invited to the awards ceremony. This included

Medical Support Drs. Paul Crank, Warren Hinson,

Executive Director Greg Schmieg, who was unable to William Render, George Ude

attend. Awilda Danko, DAS Director, then presented Morale-Building Committee Outstanding

awards to numerous individuals and work groups Dedication and Teamwork Award

that made the most significant contributions to the Professional Relations Lisa Townsend and

successes that DAS achieved. Below are the

Katherine Thomas

categories and

Program Support Joellen Chapman, Samandra

individuals or groups that were recognized:

Collins, Kim Carlyle

Claims Processing Amber Henderson, Shay

Quality Assurance Paul Nettle and Vanessa Taylor

Hansford, Robbie Davis, Miranda Thomason, Vicki Trainers Lisa Asher, Dianna Scherer, Lisa Swindler

Tanaka, Dorothy Cason, Vanessa Bodden, Tawanta The End of Year Celebration Committee members

Williams, Roger Boyd, Jay Sellars, Zach Brewer

were Floyd Cox, Dick Gonter, Gaynell Nicholas,

Accounting Michelle Coleman and Temera Graham Tonya Scott, and Chaterica Williams. Also assisting

Case Control/Pre-Development Joylette Brown-

with the celebration were the Morale Building

Swaby, Gina Wilson, Dana Williams

Cooperative Disability Investigations (Fraud Unit) Committee, and Georgia Association of Disability

Tammy Hernandez and Carmen Henley Claimant Examination Scheduling Outstanding

Examiners (GADE), Terri Daniels, President.

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GIB Recognizes Veterans Day

On Nov. 6, Georgia Industries for the Blind (GIB), division of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), held a ceremony at its Bainbridge plant in honor of the contributions and service of its Veterans.
The Bainbridge plant, whose mission is to provide employment opportunities for people who are blind, currently employs seven talented veterans in the production of high quality products for its customers.
Tghs year's sneajer was US arky Maimr Vermlhca Carroll, an Intelligence Planner who is currently deployed with III Corps in support of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Joint Command in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Major Carroll, who addressed the Bainbridge plant frmk Afggalhstal vha Sjyne, sahd Fhrst ald fmrekmst, I would like to say that it is a tremendous honor to have been hlvhted tm ymur [mrgalhzathml's] Veterals Day evelt. It is a privilege to be able to speak to you today, to celebrate and remember so many heroes to our nation and thank those of you who continue to work to support our service members. The armed forces are the strength of the nation, and it is our veterans and local citizens who contribute to that strength for whtgmut ymu, we cmuld lmt nersevere.

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, the Knowlton Award and various other campaign medals, ribbons and unit awards.
Sge cmlcluded by sayhlg Veterals sykbmlhze wgat it means to be a citizen. Look around you. There are Veteral's servhlg hl servhce ald leadersghn rmles, and to the rest of you thank you for your service and support, as well. It takes a village, and everymle's cmltrhbuthml hs extrekely hknmrtalt and today we not only honor veterans but the supporters of veterans. So -- thank you to Georgia Industries for the Blind for everything you do to support veterans, past and present. You are an amazing bunch of people, and it is you that makes my service to our great nation unequivocally successful and further reinforces my desire to serve and preserve democracy. Deeply we appreciate everything you do for us for the support from home. As smldhers, we lhterally cmuldl't dm ht whtgmut ymu.
Georgia Industries for the Blind joins the rest of the country in honoring all veterans, past and present, for their patriotism, sacrifice and love of country.

Veteral's Day hs a day tm rekekber tgmse wgm gave served and who are still serving; Veterans like Tom Henderson, Frank Williams, Charles Dragovich, Lionel Thomas, Reggie Crosson, Robert Scott, Gerard Kwilecki, and anyone else I may have missed, who are amongst us today -- thank you for your service. It is your service to our great nation that paved the way fmr tgmse mf us tgat cake after ymu.

Major Carroll, a veteran of operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom is a highly decorated officer. Her awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the
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RWS Employee CNA Course

of the Month

Schedule

Physician Ashish Dhungel received the November Roosevelt Warm Springs Vocational Rehabilitation

employee of the month award at Roosevelt Warm program is pleased to announce the 2014 training

Springs.

schedule for the Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) and

Home Health Aide (HHA) program of study. To meet

Although he has only been on the RWS staff since the needs of GVRA field clients, the program has

February, Dr. Dhungel has made a great impression prepared to increase capacity for enrollment and also

on his coworkers for the professional way he

mffers a lew dhrect eltry adkhsshmls nrmcess tgat

hlteracts whtg nathelts, nathelts' fakhlhes ald mtger allows those students meeting special admissions

healthcare professionals. The employees who

requirements to directly enroll in the program

nominated Dr. Dhungel spoke highly of his dedica- without participation in the traditional residential

tion to his work and the clients.

program. Special lodging is also available to these

students to insure streamlined admissions and

Dr. Dhungel received his medical degree from the program participation. For those students

University of Science and Technology in Bangladesh, participating in the traditional vocational

his native land. After completing residencies in inter- rehabilitation program, now known as the Roosevelt

lal kedhchle ald lengrmlmgy at St. Jmgl's Hmsnhtal & Academy, entering the CNA program can be an

Medical Center, Dr. Dhungel earned board

excellent post-secondary goal.

certification in those fields in 2008 and 2010

respectively.

Established in 2009, the 9-week training program

was specially designed for individuals with

disabilities.

Pictured: Dr. Dhungel with RWS Executive Diretor Bill Bulloch and David Mork Executive Director of Hospitals for Georgia Regents.

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5

Start Date
January 6, 2014 March 10, 2014 May 27, 2014 August 4, 2014 October 6, 2014

End Date
March 7, 2014 May 23, 2014 August 1, 2014 October 3, 2014 December 12, 2014

Reg. Deadline
December 18, 2014 March 5, 2014 May 21, 2014 July 30, 2014 October 1, 2014
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VR Success Story

John Dowdy came to VR at the end of 2011 with a host of orthopedic problems. His first concern was getting healthy again in order to return to work, ald tgat's wgat ghs VR cmulselmr wmrjed whtg him to solve. John was determined to be eligible for VR services based on Degenerative Disc DiseaseLumbar and Degenerative Joint Disease and was found to be in need of physical restoration services in order to return to work.
John participated in several months of physical therapy and began feeling stronger. After completing his PT, he began community work adiustkelt trahlhlg whtg VR's nartler Gmmdwhll where he began to build his work stamina. That training, combined with the PT, got John to the point where he was ready to begin preparing for work.

ald Grhlle. Shlce Jmgl's wmrj ghstmry ald sjhlls were primarily in the restaurant industry, he was interviewed and hired. When the restaurant opened its doors in February of 2013, John began working as a kitchen helper, primarily washing dishes. After gmhlg tm wmrj at Herscgel's hl February, Jmgl was able to save money and eventually secure an apartment for himself and his family.
John said he loves his job and the people he works whtg. He alsm sahd ge annrechates VR's geln ald support to get him where he is today.
John is an excellent example of how clients have benefitted from VR services to return to work and how working has allowed him to be a productive and responsible citizen of the community again.

Unfortunately, during his period of unemployment, John actually became homeless. He stayed in a shelter for several months. However, John never lost sight of his goal of becoming successfully employed, always making sure he attended his appointments with VR staff.

John was very motivated and worked closely with Job Readiness Specialist Kim Jordan and Employment Specialist Larry Tucker to become job ready, develop a good resume, practice interviewing and pursue job leads. John was given a record of work search sheet to record his job contacts each day and was encouraged to spend 32 hours a week looking for a job. He was provided transportation assistance through bus passes allowing him to actively participate in his job search and attend scheduled appointments with VR staff.

At the end of 2012, all his hard work paid off. He applied at a new restaurant that was being built in downtown Athens--Herscgel's Fakmus 34 Oub

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NDEAM Pictures from Across GA.
ABOVE: Representatives from Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation in Albany, Georgia met with Mayor Christopher Wright of Dawson for signing a proclamation to kick off the celebration of NDEAM. Standing behind Mayor Wright pictured from left to right, Arleather Perry (Middle/High School Representative), Tom Connelly (Rehabilitation Employment Specialist); Cassandra Terry (Rehabilitation Employment Specialist); and Barney Parnacott (City Manager). BELNW LEFT: Tge Brulswhcj Glyll Cmulty Maymr's Cmkkhttee ml Servhces fmr tge Dhsabled, Ilc., geld their 24th annual Employer of the Year Awards Luncheon on Oct. 15. Pictured below are left to right, Scarlett Decker and Chris Caracciolo with Chartwells Higher Education and Steve Oldaker, Chairman of tge Brulswhcj Glyll Cmulty Maymr's Cmkkhttee ml Servhces fmr tge Dhsabled, Ilc. BELOW RIGHT: City of Cairo mayor and council members recognize NDEAM.
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