GVRA monthly newsletter [June 2015]

June 2015

Greg's Greetings

Approaching the checkered flag ...
We are less than a month away from the end of the state fiscal year, somewhat like nearing the end of a race and waiting to cross the line and have the checkered flag fall. So as I look back on what has now been our third year as an agency, I continue to see improvements and growth. We have gained more financial stability, we have improved our overall performance, and we have implemented a lot of new things that will help us in the future. I can't honestly say that we will win the race this year, but I can say that we are gaining ground.
Unlike most races, however, our's doesn't end with this lap. We will cross the finish line for this fiscal year, and immediately head into turn one for next year's race. Most of us won't even see the checkered flag, we will simply show up for work the next day and the race is on. So as we head into year number four, what should we expect.

Well, we should expect to continue going in the same direction we are heading now, which is to continue to improve. To win the race, we have to be the very best; and to get there we must continue to improve in all aspects of what we do as an agency and as the various programs within the agency. This coming year, my goal is to see improvements in everything from our services to citizens with disabilities, to the levels of support from the agency to the programs, and even to how our staff are treated by managers and supervisors. In all areas, our scores need to go up. I truly believe, and I am completely committed to making our agency, GVRA, the very best agency in the state. More importantly, I want our state, Georgia, to be the very best state in the country with respect to individuals with disabilities. That's when we win the race.
So as we head down this year's final lap, I thank you for all the hard work that you did this year. I thank you for the people that you served, the cases that you processed and adjudicated, and the contracts that you completed. You worked hard, and I appreciate your efforts. So keep your seat belt fastened, because we are going to go faster.

A Week of Recognition

The week of June 15 marked the National Disability Professional Week, as recognized by the Georgia Association for Developmental Education.

So congratulations to everyone who works in the disability field, and a special congratulations to all GVRA employees past and present.

GADE is the Georgia chapter of the National Association for Developmental Education and comprised of teachers from all levels of education in the state.

What you do is significant for Georgians with disabilities. It's not an easy vocation, but it's a very necessary vocation. Thank you for your service.

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The ADA, Looking Forward

This post comes courtesy of Mark Johnson with the At the ADA Legacy Project, we are celebrating our

Shepherd Center. It first appeared at

present by honoring the milestones and

www.sunrisegroup.org.

accomplishments of the past, including the 25th

anniversary of the ADA's passage on July 26. The

As Justin Dart, Jr. said, "we are not a tragic minority; ADA did more than acknowledge the rights of

we are a magnificent, triumphant majority." Indeed. people with disabilities to fully participate in all

The history of the civil rights movement is a

aspects of society; from employment and education,

triumphant one. For the generations of Americans to housing, community inclusion and government

who will grow up with the ADA and others outside participation, it has worked to address and move

the movement, that history may be unknown and beyond barriers existing for people with disabilities.

the challenges faced by its advocates and allies

unthinkable. But its role in the broader civil rights The ADA has fulfilled much of its promise. A 2010

victories of the 20th century reflect back on each of national survey of disability leaders authored by Lex

us and our nation's progress towards ending

Frieden, who helped craft the ADA, found the "equal

discrimination whatever the source.

opportunity" law for people with disabilities "had

more influence on their lives than any other social,

The ADA Legacy Project is helping to preserve this cultural or legislative change." Nearly 60 percent of

past by partnering with those who work to collect, those surveyed agreed that access to public

promote and exhibit materials from the civil rights accommodations, retail and commercial

movements. Part of this mission has been

establishments has shown the greatest improvement

demonstrated best by the ADA Legacy Tour.

since the ADA's passage. Respondents also

Wrapped in photos from the civil rights movement described remarkable improvements in the area of

and making its way across the country, the ADA transportation, and credited the law with making it

Legacy Tour's bus pays tribute to the cross-disability easier for people with disabilities to gain

efforts that led to the passage of the ADA in 1990. employment in inclusive settings.

Inspired by the historic 50-state journey taken by

Dart and his wife, Yoshiko, to garner grassroots

support for the then yet-to-be-passed ADA, the bus

and tour have been expanded since its first launch in

2006-7. Notably, the bus newly features a

four-panel display on the history of self-advocacy

courtesy of the Museum of disABILITY History in

Buffalo, plus: disability history quilts, local and

national milestones, new displays on the 2006-7

Road to Freedom Tour, and information about the

ADA Legacy Project.

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Meet Lamar Burke

Charles L. Burke, better known as Lamar, is celebrating his first year of gainful employment at Georgia Industries for the Blind (GIB) Bainbridge plant.
Lamar, a product of the strong collaboration between GIB and the Thomasville Vocational Rehabilitation office, did Community Work Adjustment Training (CWAT) at the Bainbridge plant before being hired.
A native of Bainbridge, Lamar began his CWAT training in the Shipping Department where he exceeded expectations completing multiple tasks. He was later moved into the File Folder Assembly area where he completed CWAT and proved to be diligent in completing assignments.
A month after completing CWAT, Lamar was notified of an opening for a Custodian. His ability to work well with others and strong work ethics were major contributors to a successful job placement with GIB.

Lamar, a product of the strong collaboration between GIB and the Thomasville Vocational Rehabilitation office, did Community Work Adjustment Training (CWAT) at the Bainbridge plant before being hired.
A native of Bainbridge, Lamar began his CWAT training in the Shipping Department where he exceeded expectations completing multiple tasks. He was later moved into the File Folder Assembly area where he completed CWAT and proved to be diligent in completing assignments.
A month after completing CWAT, Lamar was notified of an opening for a Custodian. His ability to work well with others and strong work ethics were major contributors to a successful job placement with GIB.
GIB's Bainbridge and Griffin plants are always open to partner with VR to provide training opportunities for clients needing work experience.

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RWS Student Reaches Far

Laura Book grew up in Columbus, Georgia in a

After investigating all the many aspects of the Voca-

blended middle class family. She was the third old- tional Rehabilitation program, Ms. Book made her

est child in a busy household and believed that am- first appointment with Dr. William McIntosh, a vet-

bition would take you where you needed to

eran neuropsychologist at Roosevelt Warm Springs

go. However at the age of 9, tragedy struck and Vocational Rehabilitation Campus in Warm Springs,

Laura was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Georgia. After 13 hours of neuropsychological test-

ing, Ms. Book had a primary diagnosis of slowed

The brain tumor, a benign ganglioglioma growing in rapid recall. Dr. McIntosh provided a variety of intel-

her left temporal lobe, caused severe seizures.

lectual tools to compensate for the memory recall

Laura and her family eventually consented to a dan- issues in her college classes, on the job and in her

gerous surgical removal of the tumor although the life. She used her new tools to finish college and ad-

side effects to this type of surgery could leave Laura vocate for her admission to graduate school where

deaf, mute, blind and/or brain damaged. Fortu-

she is currently maintaining an "A" average in her

nately, the surgery was successful and eliminated studies. In December 2014, she was received into

her seizures; however, it left Laura with significant Chi Sigma Iota, the international counseling aca-

memory deficits and a bipolar disorder.

demic and professional honor society. She has just

six courses, two internships and a practicum left be-

Finishing high school for Laura was a struggle, and fore she finishes her master's degree in counseling

her memory deficits made test taking a difficult en- and psychology from Troy State University.

deavor. Several of Laura's teachers advised her to

give up and drop out of high school. Others, how- "I did not find the strength, the courage or the confi-

ever, encouraged her to not lose faith and to con- dence to move forward with my goals and aspira-

tinue on the correct path toward her high school tions until I talked to Dr. McIntosh," or "Dr. Mac," as

diploma. In 2001, Laura reached her first goal of she called him fondly. "All of my interactions with

receiving her high school diploma from Columbus him have been game changers. Without him, I

High School. After high school, Laura continued her would not have even tried," commented Book.

education by receiving a certificate in Medical Cod-

ing from Columbus Technical College and then be- "Staying with things and not giving up has been the

gan pursuing her bachelor's degree in communica- key to Laura's success," Dr. McIntosh said. "We iden-

tions at Columbus State University.

tified her strengths and weaknesses," he added, "and

we also explored her emotional reactions to stress

Despite these achievements, Ms. Book still suffered and gave her tools to cope."

from painful self-doubts and wondered if she would

be able to accomplish more in life despite her mem- According to Dr. McIntosh, a neuropsychological

ory deficits. With this in mind, a friend told her about evaluation can benefit many types of vocational re-

Roosevelt Warms Springs and the Georgia Voca- habilitation clients. "Anyone with a known or sus-

tional Rehabilitation Agency, Vocational Rehabilita- pected brain injury or neurological illness can benefit

tion Program.

from a neuropsychological exam," he said. "

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RWS Student Continued

"So can clients with Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or any type of psychological disorder not adequately diagnosed."
After the initial evaluation, Dr. McIntosh offers continuing support to clients as they seek to complete their education or pursue employment. "I have spent many hours helping individuals get the accommodations they need," he said. "An evaluation like we provide at Roosevelt Warm Springs Vocational Rehabilitation Campus helps make a strong case with employers and service providers."
Semi-retired, Dr. McIntosh sees clients one day a week at Roosevelt Warm Springs, and his services are available without charge to Vocational Rehabilitation clients referred to him by field counselors anywhere in the State of Georgia.

In addition to information about her condition, Dr. McIntosh also referred Ms. Book to the vocational rehabilitation office in Columbus that has provided her with additional memory adaptations and job opportunities.
Ms. Book, now 33, has fought hard for her success. In addition to her studies, she currently works full time as an information specialist at the Georgia Visitor's Information Center in Columbus. She also works part time as a mental health technician at the Bradley Center in Columbus. Once she has her counseling degree, she plans to devote her time and efforts to advocating for people with disabilities. From a rough beginning, she has grown to be a confident woman who expects to make a difference in the world. She knows she can be an excellent advocate for people with disabilities because "I'm equal to them," she said. "I know what it is like. I have been there."

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RWS Employees Continued
DAS
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