Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, 2017 July

Stable How the new Georgia law impacts our clients.
July 2017

Table of Contents
Page 1 -- Welcome Message from Executive Director Sean T. Casey Page 2 -- How the New STABLE Accounts Work Pages 3-6 -- Graduation at Roosevelt Warm Springs Page 6 -- Crunching the Numbers with DAS Page 7-9 -- Administrative Updates Page 10 and 11 -- BEP Vendor at Fort Benning Finds Success Page 12 -- GATES Annual Conference Page 13 -- Advocacy at the Zoo Page 14 -- Legislator Spotlight Page 14 -- New Hires Page 15 -- GIB in DC Page 15 -- GIB Featured in National Magazine Page 16 -- CNA Students Get Certified Page 16 -- Calendar of Events

The Next Fiscal Year

Executive Director Sean Casey Talks About the Coming Months

As we begin a new fiscal year, I believe one of the best ways to start off stronger than ever is to recognize the work of those who have made our clients, and by extension, GVRA, successful. We look back on the past year in terms of the strides we have made as an organization.
Last fall, we set our course for changes within our administrative offices and our programs to return resources and personnel to the field. With this decentralization, 184 positions that formerly reported to the central offices at 200 Piedmont Avenue now report back to our five statutory programs. In addition, I had an opportunity to elevate to new leadership roles individuals with more than 55 years of

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) experience. Since then, we have continued that emphasis on VR expertise, with a commitment to, whenever possible, promote from within. Doing so has allowed us to give a number of opportunities to client-focused, team oriented professionals who understand the strengths, talents and needs of Georgians with disabilities and know the VR program inside and out.
Through this time of transition, you have continued steadfastly in your dedication to the mission, recognizing that the client always comes first in all we do. Your efforts have paid off. Client data shows that 4,534 people were assisted in successfully finding employment during State Fiscal Year 2017. That number exceeds the 3,979 served last year by 555. While we share the belief that each person we serve is an individual and their success is more valuable than any numeric count, we also know that the success of each of the 4,534 employed has a multiplier effect. Your hard work and your clients' achievements represent the financial stability of families, peace of mind for parents, increased productivity for business and fiscal returns flowing back into our state's economy.
To my coworkers -- as you continue the momentum into the new fiscal year, know that your efforts on behalf of Georgians with disabilities count, and your hard work does not go unnoticed nor unappreciated. To our community partners and other supporters thank you for your belief in our mission and your commitment to those we are humbled to serve. I look forward to working alongside you and celebrating more successes in the year ahead.
Thank you --
Sean T. Casey
GVRA Executive Director
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STABLE Accounts Go Live

Clients will now be able to save more money each year tax free.

In mid June, Governor Nathan Deal announced the launch of Georgia STABLE, a tax-free savings program aimed at helping eligible individuals with disabilities save more money on an annual basis.

A STABLE account has many features of a regular bank account and acts as an investment account, similar to a 529 college savings account or a 401(k) retirement account.

This new program comes as part of the federal ABLE Act, which was passed in 2014.

Contributions and earnings in STABLE accounts are not subject to federal or state income tax if spent on qualifying expenses, such as education, health care, housing and transportation.

Contributions to STABLE accounts are made with after-tax dollars.

"STABLE is a unique way for Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities to become integrated into the fabric of community life through financial independence," said Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Commissioner and ABLE Board Vice Chair Judy Fitzgerald. "This is an exciting and important step forward."

Georgia STABLE account holders can receive a debit card linked directly to their account. While money can be withdrawn and spent on qualified expenses as needed, STABLE accounts allow account holders to grow their finances and establish long-term savings with tax-free earnings.

"Georgia STABLE is an important part of our ongoing efforts to provide effective tools and better opportunities for Georgians with disabilities," Deal said at the unveiling of the STABLE Accounts. "This savings program will be a beneficial asset for people with disabilities across the state as they live more independent lives, seek gainful employment and plan for the future. Georgia STABLE is another step toward ensuring our citizens with disabilities have the means and support necessary to live and work as independently as possible."

Up to $14,000 may be contributed to each account annually, and contributions may continue to be made until the account balance reaches $445,000.
Friends and family members may also make contributions on behalf of an account holder.
More information about Georgia STABLE, including the application form, can be found at www.georgiastable.com.

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Above, RWS graduates wait their turn to cross the stage and receive their diplomas. Below, students pick up their caps and gowns for graduation.
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Walking Across the Stage

GVRA Executive Director Sean Casey Gives RWS Commencement

June welcomed the summer graduation at Roosevelt Warm Springs (RWS). Of the 62 graduates, 48 percent were already employed at the time of graduation. That's a big deal. GVRA Executive Director Sean T. Casey gave the keynote speech. Below are his lightlyedited comments.
Good afternoon, everybody.
[RWS Director] Lee [Brinkley Bryan], Coworkers, teachers, other staff of Roosevelt Warm Springs, parents, family, relatives, friends, thank you. Thank you for being here today. Thank you for what you do. Thank you for allowing me to be here to speak with you today.
I am very excited, and it truly is an honor and a privilege. And before I get to the graduates, and don't worry, I'll get to you soon enough. Sitting next to Lee, looking out there, seeing some of my 1,400 coworkers, and you are my coworkers, I actually think of an old FDR quote. President Roosevelt said, "I'm not the smartest fellow in the world, but I can sure pick smart colleagues." And that's the blessing I have every day, is the individuals I work with, who have that fire in the belly and put the client first. And it is an honor and privilege to work with you, and so again, to Lee, to staff, to all my coworkers, thank you for all that you do.
I do want to give a special thank you, though, to the parents. As Lee mentioned, I have a six year old daughter, a three year old son, who I love more than anything. She just finished kindergarten. We live, barely, three hundred yards from the school. And I would drop her off, some days I'd walk her to school, some days in the car, and it would break my heart. I'd see her in eight hours. She wasn't going anywhere. So I can't imagine what your parents went through when they dropped you off here, but then got in the car and left. And what they did is, they didn't just drop you off.

They took their most valuable asset... you... and entrusted you to Lee, to Lee's coworkers, to us. And so, to your parents, to your siblings, grandparents, I want to say a very special thank you. It is an honor to work with your children, it is an honor to work with Lee and my coworkers, but I want to say thank you to the parents for the belief you had in us, to oversee your most valuable asset, so thank you.
I also want to say a special, I guess, apology, and say sorry, to a woman I work with, Robin, who's in charge of communications. And as far as I know, Robin really does two things. She literally turns the lights on in the morning at the office, and then she turns them off at night. She is there almost 24-7. And she wrote this great speech. And Robin, I apologize, because what I'm doing is just kind of throwing it away now, because I just want to speak from the heart.
I have three points I want to get across today. I plan to talk for maybe another ten minutes at most. These lights are not cool. They're a little hot. The first point I want to make, is to the graduates, first off, congratulations. Please... please celebrate. Celebrate this achievement, celebrate this day, scream it from the mountaintop. Enjoy it. Celebrate it with your family, your parents, your friends, the support staff, the community, the church, the teachers here, the counselors at Roosevelt Warm Springs. You have accomplished an amazing goal. And you have sacrificed. You sacrificed to make the decision to come here.
You sacrificed working here, and now look where you are today. It is through your hard work, and overcoming your fears, and I'm going to circle back up about overcoming fears. But please celebrate this moment. Life is not worth living if you don't celebrate your achievements, so please celebrate. As I tell my three and six year old, A-B-C, always be careful, but please celebrate. And don't
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forget. Besides being graduates, you're also ambassadors. You are setting the tone for a future generation of graduates coming from Roosevelt Warm Springs. Cave Spring. Act accordingly. You've earned this day. Continue to earn it every single day. The second point I want to make is, you'll celebrate, but don't lose that fire in your belly. Don't. The fire in your belly is what got you here. The fire in your belly is what got you through your classes. Learning to live out on your own. This is just the beginning. This is not the end.
I remember being in your position a long time ago. A long time ago. Actually, when I graduated, there weren't even cell phones, so this is just the beginning. Don't be satisfied with today. Do not just be satisfied with today. Want more. As you enter the workforce, as you get that first job, as you get fired maybe from that first job, or maybe leave for a second job, let me give you some advice: become indispensable. This is what I mean by indispensable. When a coworker, when a boss, a manager, the owner, approaches you and says, "Hey, can you do x, y and z?" ... before he or she finishes the sentence, the only answer is, "Yes, yes, I'll get that done." And if you have no idea how to do it, that's okay. You can't know everything about everything. Calmly walk out of your boss's office, calmly go into your office, your cube, whatever, and Google it. Figure it out. I'm living proof of that.
In 2012, I was working in the Governor's Office, and this was early in January in 2012, and I got a call, so I hustle. And I walk into the office, and this individual goes, "Do you know anything about vocational rehabilitation?" And I was honest. I said, "Very little." Actually, I was probably dishonest when I said, `very little'. And I'm going to almost quote exactly, and they said, "Okay. Well, currently, it resides under the Department of Labor. It's a 200 million dollar plus program. Fourteen, fifteen hundred staff members throughout the state. We're going to take it away from Labor, and set it free." And the exact quote was, "If you could go make that happen, that would be great." I had my poker face on, and I said, "Okay." And I

calmly left the office, calmly walked in my office. I had a door. I closed the door. I locked it, closed the blinds, sat down in front of my computer, and, "G-O-O-G-L-E-dotcom. How do you do this?" Become indispensable. Become indispensable. The only answer is yes. "Can you do--?" "Yes, I'll do it." "Do you know how to do it?" "Maybe, maybe not. I will find a way, and I'll get it done." So don't lose that fire in the belly. This is just the beginning. Become indispensable.
And finally, this is going to sound a little weird at a graduation ceremony, but please be patient, hear me out. I want to talk about failure. I look around, I look at Lee, I look at my coworkers, and I am clearly the biggest failure of the people I work with. I have failed over, and over, and over again in life, at sports, at school, in relationships. But my advice to you is, in essence, embrace that. And develop the skill set where you fail, and you will fail. No one bats a thousand percent. I don't. You won't. No one does. But develop the skill set where you learn to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back in that fight. That is one of the true skill sets of any leader anywhere in this world. You look at leaders all over the world--sports, workforce, wherever... schools, academia they are failures. They have failed again and again and again. But they don't accept it. They reject it. And they get up, and they dust themselves off, and they get back in that fight, and they get after it. So that is one of my pieces of advice to you. You will fail. I bet you all a hundred dollars, and you'll pay me one day, sooner or later. But that's fine. That is fine. Get back up, dust off, get in that fight, and get after it.
You know, on a personal story with that: we just actually had lunch, and I sat next to one of your classmates, Auburn. She told me how she in essence embraced failure in learning to overcome her fears regarding public speaking. I even asked her, I said, "Well, when you first started, were you great? Did you fail?" She was like, "Oh, no. No. I was not good." She goes, "Yeah. I failed. I stumbled." But she got back up. She got back in the fight, she dusted herself off, and wouldn't accept that. So please, in essence, embrace that failure, and
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get back in that fight. Those are really the three main points I wanted to speak to today. I want to say thank you again to my coworkers for the work that you do. It never goes unnoticed. Never goes unappreciated. I want to say thank you to your support staff: your parents, siblings, grandparents, church, community .... and especially the parents. Thank you for trusting us with your most valuable asset. And second, don't lose that fire in the belly. Don't ever lose that fire in the belly. And finally, develop that skillset. You will fail, life will punch you in the stomach. Get back up, dust yourself off, get back in that fight.
So to the graduating class of 2017, I say, congratulations. You have earned this. Celebrate. I'm very proud of you. Lee, Roosevelt Warm Springs staff, teachers, counselors, parents... everyone is very proud of you. You are an inspiration to me, to Lee, to everyone in this room, and with that, I say, thank you, and congratulations.

GVRA Executive Director Sean Casey shows off his socks with one of the recent RWS graduates.

DAS Keeps Pushing Forward

Working Together to Process More Than 100,000 Claims Annually

Despite fluctuating staffing patterns, Disability Adjudication Services (DAS) continues to process thousands of claims a week, maintaining nearly perfect accuracy while doing so.
DAS Director Rita McWhorter said that the ongoing success of the organization can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the adjudicators and other staff members.
"It's amazing we can do the number of cases and serve the number of citizens we've served with the obstacles we've had," McWhorter said. "People here come to work today, and they realize it's a production environment but everybody keeps in front of them that these are people, and our mission is to make timely, accurate and cost effective decisions ... It can make the difference on whether someone gets the benefits they deserve and the difference in whether they can live independently with the

benefits they receive. That's a big deal to them, and it's a big deal to all of us."
While the significance of the work isn't lost in the numbers, the numbers themselves tell a pretty apt story of the sheer amount of claims that are processed annually. Since October of last year--when the federal fiscal year starts-- they've processed over 108,000 cases. That puts them well on the way of their goal of 139,000 cases through the end of the fiscal year come Sept. 30.
Though some states, McWhorter said, have seen declines in the number of disability applications since the economy has rebounded in recent years, Georgia continues to see high numbers, but DAS staff is up to the challenge
"This is resilient group of workers," she said. "They work hard, and I'm proud of them"
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GVRA Administrative Updates

A Department-by-Department Look at Administrative Functions

The administrative wing of GVRA exists to support the field offices in all that they do, ensuring they have the resources to give our clients the best service possible. Below are brief updates from the various offices that are housed under GVRA administration.
Office of Business Applications
Established spending accounts in FY2018 in System7 (GVRA's current client management system).
Added new forms that are now available in System7
Added exit documentation for clients Added new Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act reporting dates
Communications and Marketing
GVRA launched a new logo in March 2017 after buy-in from staff statewide who voted for the logo they liked best based on color and design. After votes were tallied the new logo was chosen and has been placed on the website, letterhead, staff email signatures, brochures, collateral materials, and swag.
Contracted with the broadcasting industry to get an agency advertisement on over 100 radio stations across Georgia.
Produced updated brochures for our Team 26 Veterans Unit and the Cave Spring Center campus.
Created new brochures entitled "Your Future Begins Now", written for youth with disabilities who are transitioning from high school. Another new brochure directed at employers is entitled "You are Hiring & We Can Help." Additional brochures include a tri-fold focused on individuals with autism spectrum disorder entitled "Career and Independent Living Success with Autism Spectrum Disorders" and a tri-fold highlighting veterans' services through the TEAM 26 program.

Office of External Affairs
Distributed information to thousands of clients, prospective clients, school staff, providers, and others throughout Georgia at various events, including the Statewide Autism Conference and Expo, the Georgia Council of Administrators of Special Education, Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, Department of Education Parent Mentor Conference, Department of Human Resources Fatherhood Event, Georgia People's First Conference, Service Provider Association for Developmental Disabilities (SPADD), Georgia National Association of Individuals with Mental Illness (NAMI) Conference and the Systems of Care Conference.
Made presentations to hundreds of youth with disabilities and adults, including school staff, teachers, providers and staff of external partners at high schools, public health sites, Department of Family and Children Services site, and churches.
Coordinated 13 public hearings on behalf of the SRC on proposed VR policy changes.
Managed the agency's legislative agenda. Submitted the federal Annual
Performance Report (704 Report) on behalf of the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) to Health and Human Services Administration on Community Living. Managed board relations for the GVRS board and improved board relations and communication with board members. Developed and disseminated the SRC FY16 annual report.
Office of Fiscal Services
Finalizing FY2017 and reconciling expenses associated with that fiscal year
Ensuring staff submit vendor invoices related to FY2017 as soon as possible for reconciliation

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Office of the General Counsel
House Bill 280 titled "Weapons- Licenses and Permits Colleges and Universities," commonly referred to as the "Campus Carry." HB280 is a bill recently passed by Georgia lawmakers allowing weapons to be carried on certain campuses by licensed weapons carry holders. It does not apply to comprehensive rehabilitation centers such as Cave Spring Center and Roosevelt Warm Springs. Therefore, employees are expected to continue to abide by the Standards of Conduct and Ethics in Government, which prohibits the carrying of weapons (e.g., knives, firearms or explosive devices) unless it is required as a condition of his or her employment. Any questions should be directed to the Office of the General Counsel.
Agency Policy Updates: A number of agency policies are currently being developed or updated, and they will released in the coming weeks
The Office of Communications and Marketing will be adding two new policies. The first is "Filming on GVRA Properties and/or Leases." This policy requires third parties to seek permission in advance from the Director of Communications and Marketing to prioritize client safety and privacy. The second policy is "Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Other Aircraft Policy," which prohibits the use of aircrafts or drones without prior permission from the Director of Communications and Marketing.
The Office of External Affairs revised its Sponsorship Policy, which requires that all requests for event sponsorship come through the Office of External Affairs for vetting whenever agency resources are being committed to support external events. Sponsorships include but are not limited to, conferences, run/walk events, booths or tables at job fairs, faith-based events, events for veterans and events for individuals with disabilities.
The Office of Fiscal Services will be implementing a "Purchasing and Payment Policy" for all purchasing and payment.

This policy will ensure compliance with state purchasing requirements and facilitate consistency in all agency purchases and payments. All purchases, unless exempt, will go through the State Accounting Office (SAO)'s PeopleSoft Financial system to facilitate electronic approval. Roosevelt Warm Springs and Cave Springs' policies were updated this year in anticipation of the accreditation visit by The Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
The agency will soon be implementing its first ever centralized database of agency and program policies thanks to the collaborative efforts of Applications Management, Legal, IT and HR.
Office of Facilities Management
The Office of Facilities Management and Support Services is currently engaged in 10 structural related changes projects to the Roosevelt Warm Springs campus. Of which, three are slated to be completed by the end of FY18. The others are Multi-Year ongoing projects which will require oversight throughout each phase of the project.
Additionally, efforts are underway to renovate and or relocate another 11 offices around the state, including Perry, Dublin, Cleveland, Tucker, Waycross, Americus, Brunswick, Cumming and others that are still being vetted.
They are in the process of completing the Verizon Cell phone upgrade project for all staff who were eligible to receive the upgrade. This will be an ongoing effort as well.
In the midst of all of this change, we are also endeavoring as a Support team to meet the demands of our aging Fleet, assist with the removal of surplus items and any other office environment needs that may arise and require our attention and handle the day to day support tasks associated with an ever growing staff population.
Over the next few weeks, several changes
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will occur in the Central Office in an effort to realign Management teams. More information will be forthcoming regarding this matter.
Office of Human Resources
Annual Performance Reviews are in progress. All managers and supervisors will complete and communicate performance evaluations no later than July 15th.
Executive Director Sean Casey has approved Merit-Based Increases for SFY 2017. Governor Deal and the General Assembly originally approved a 2 percent increase for state employees. Based on performance evaluation rating scores, staff will be rewarded based on a formula ranging from 3 percent to 5 percent. Rita McWhorter worked with federal partners to gain approval for a similar plan for DAS staff. GIB Co-Directors Mike Jackson and Luis Narimatsu have worked to ensure that all GIB received a 2.5 percent increase effective July 1. All increases (with the exception of GIB) will be reflected on Sept. 15 payroll checks, with increases retroactive to July 1.
The State Accounting Office (SAO) will be implementing a new functionality in the Time & Labor Module. GVRA will no longer use the absence management module. All absences will be requested directly from the Timesheet. The new simplified system will eliminate the need to forecast the absence request, will not permit employee to enter more than their balance, provides day by day balance inquiry for each leave type, and leave accruals will appear on the time sheets and more.

Office of Information Technology
The agency domain name has been changed from "ablegeorgia" to "gvs" (Georgia Vocational Services) to embrace all divisions within the agency. This was accomplished within a very short timeframe.
GVRA migrated to Microsoft Office 365 so that staff can access their email, calendar and documents from anywhere.
GVRA's IT Director took the proper measures to protect all agency computers from malicious spyware attacks and to stay abreast of possible future threats to the integrity of agency hardware and software.
IT staff has increased by 40% to provide better support to agency staff statewide.
A complete refresh of all agency computer hardware has been completed.
Office of Strategy & Innovation
The Office of Strategy and Innovation just completed its second annual strategic plan for 2017-18. The plan highlights previous accomplishments, the current agency landscape, as well as goals and objectives for the future.
Strategy Manager Robin Blount began her new role on June 16, while the Grants Manager and Program Evaluator are set to come aboard within the new few weeks.
Strategy and Innovation will begin the new fiscal year focusing on strategic planning for individual offices/programs within the agency as well as creating a SharePoint sight for all new agency ideas that enhance employment opportunities for agency clients.

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On the right, BEP Vendor at Fort Benning talks to GVRA Executive Director Sean Casey. Mike's cafeterias serve millions of meals a year to the troops stationed on base. Strategy Manager Robin Blount looks on (left).
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Feeding Thousands a Day

One BEP Vendor Meets a High Demand at Fort Benning

GVRA leadership recently visited Fort Benning where they witnessed a paratrooper unit practice their jumps and toured Business Enterprise Program Vendor Mike Lee's cafeterias, the whole of which serve 10 million meals a year to the troops stationed on base.
Mike's operation serves three meals a day every day of the year and employs hundreds of people. But his career started on a much smaller scale.
Mike, who began losing his eye-sight due to the disease Retinitis Pigmentosa as a teenager, first entered the working world started in March of 1963 at the age of 19. It involved collecting drink bottles throughout the 16 floors of Grady hospital and delivering the bottles to the two snack bars in the building.
His next job, which lasted from 1966 to 1969, was servicing vending machines at the bulk mail federal post office in downtown Atlanta. Following that, he operated snack bars in two different state office buildings, with this phase of his career lasting 28 years.
Then, in July 1997, he opened a food court at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center Food Court (AFC). It was the first food court in a U.S. federal building to be operated by a blind vendor.
He left the AFC in April 2001 and assumed responsibility for the Robins Air Force Base full food service contract. Under his leadership, Mike made the contract at Robins a success, and the BEP is still operating this facility to this day.
Under his current contract at Fort Benning, Mike is responsible for managing a staff of over 800 hourly and management personnel who prepare, serve, and account for up to 30,000 meals per day in 14 dining facilities (including two remote Ranger Training

Camps) as well as packing food for delivery to field training sites. In 2007, Mike and his staff won the Southeast Region Phillip A. Connolly award for both the large and small garrison dining facilities. Mike is currently operating under his second contract award after successful completion of the original 10 year contract.
Mike said that when he first started his career, he had no idea he'd go as far as he has. But thanks to hard work and the support of the BEP, his dream has become a reality.

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Working Together

GATES Holds Annual Educational Conference

The Georgia Association for Training and Employment Supports (GATES) held its annual conference and recognition luncheon in June at the Goodwill of North Georgia Training Center in Decatur. The morning session highlighted "Ideas Worth Sharing," which allowed GATES members to discuss successful programs and strategies for serving Georgians with disabilities. The presentations included:
Sharing is a Good Idea (B obby Dodd Institute)
Autism Transition Services (Easter Seals of East Georgia)
Hospitality Works! (Goodw ill of Southeast GA)
What Can We Do to Prevent Poverty for the Next Generation? (Goodw ill of North Georgia)

Director of Provider Management, gave updates on the agency's recent progress.
Vice President of Mission Services for Goodwill of North Georgia Cheryl Cornett and President/CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia Ray Bishop were recognized for their upcoming retirements. Both of these outstanding individuals have been instrumental in thier service to GATES and their dedication to helping Georgians with disabilities.
CEO of Easter Seals of East Georgia and President of GATES Lynn Smith expressed appreciation for all of the GATES and GVRA individuals attending.
"We value the time we have together to share success stories and recognize lifetime service to the industry," she said. "It is critically important that we all work together to ensure we are serving Georgians with disabilities."

Leveraging Technology (Center for the Visually Impaired)

Blending Autism Into the Workplace (Nobis Works)

Shift Happens (Cr eative Enter pr ises)

Transition Alliances (Easter Seals of Middle Georgia)

The Impact of Going Virtual (Goodw ill of North Georgia)

These presentations will be posted on the GATES web site for all to review and utilize in their service programs. Their website can be found at www.georgiagates.org.

In addition to the aforementioned presentations, GVRA Chief Client Management Officer Dale Arnold (pictured right), and Mary Ellen Mendiratte, GVRA

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By Disability Community Specialist Charlie Miller
Recently, I went to an event at Zoo Atlanta where I got to speak about Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE). While there, I talked about my journey in IPSE at KSU and my subsequent job search.
When I got there, they were watching a video about the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. After the video, I had the chance to speak a little about the importance of advocates both in the community at large and also within GVRA itself. When I was done speaking, they asked me to come and join them for lunch, so I helped serve the food. It was a really fun time hanging out with metro office staff. It gave me the chance to really get to know them and thank them for what they do for the disability community.
Pictured from left: Bernadette Amerein, Charlie Miller, Andrea Bryant and Yashica Finch.
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Legislator Spotlight

This Month Features Former GVRS Board Member Greg Kirk

Senator Greg Kirk, a lifelong Republican, was elected to the Senate in 2014. He represents the 13th district, which includes Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Lee, Tift, Turner, Worth and parts of Sumter and Wilcox counties.
Sen. Kirk is the Deputy Whip for the Senate Majority Caucus. He serves as a member of the Health and Human Services, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Judiciary and Insurance and Labor Committees.
He is an active participant in the state and his community. He is a member of the Sumter County Republican Party, former Board Member of the Easter Seals Southern Georgia,
New Hires

past president of his professional organization Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia 2010-2012, Board Member Georgia Association of Community Care Providers 2007-2011. He was appointed to the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services Board by Governor Deal in 2012, serving until December 2013. Senator Kirk is an advocate for small businesses in Georgia and has founded three successful companies in South Georgia, creating more than 100 jobs in the state.
Sen. Kirk, a native Georgian, received his Master's Degree in Psychology from Troy State University.
He and his wife, Rosalyn, have seven children and five grandchildren. They live in Americus, and attend Rehoboth Baptist Church where he was the Senior Pastor from 1998-2005.

We have a lot of new faces joining the GVRA team all around the state. If you see any of these people, make sure to introduce yourself and welcome them to the organization.
Judith Rakestraw Padgett (VR Metro), Kenya Makia Cribb (VR Douglasville), Pamela Christina Butler VR Canton), Shana Avery Shelby (VR Canton), Nannie B. Shreve (VR Director's Office), Lujan Brooks (Employment Services), Chamel Collins (Employment Services), Anytwone Jordan (Employment Services), Adriane Fuller (VR East), Venus Trevae Watson (VR East), Sokia Jeanay Chenevert (VR Gainesville), Edward Adam Paige (VR Gainesville), Brett Anthony Seay (VR Cumming), Katherine A. Lutz (VR Athens), Vivian Taylor McCray (VR Perry), Rechell Thomas (VR Augusta), Ciara Lekell McKnight (VR Rome), Carolyn J. Clark (VR

Dallas), Tonya Shekinah Grizzell (VR LaFayette), Madeline Grayce Jorges (VR LaFayette), Kharhonda L. Jennings (VR Griffin), Pamela Denise Farley (VR LaGrange), Krystle Veneice Hayes (VR Swainsboro), Lovonia Mae Marshall (VR Albany), Sarah Kathryn Willis (VR Tifton), Rhonda Lynette Twyman (Financial Services), Robert Schacht (IT), Hakeem Mustafta Muhammad (HR), Charles Issac Miller (External Affairs), Ava Davenport (RWS), Sekory Warrez Bivines (RWS), Yvonnia J. Robertson (RWS), Tammy Lashanda Adams (GIB), G.W. Real Ragonton (GIB), Candice M. Edwards (BEP) and William Henry Graham (BEP).
Welcome aboard, all!
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GIB Advocates in DC
Georgia Industries for the Blind staff recently visited Sen. David Perdue during the National Industries for the Blind 2017 Symposium, advocating for employment for individuals who are blind. In addition to GIB leadership, Employee of the Year Harold Newbold made the trip as well.
In addition, Harold was nominated for the NIB Peter Salmon Employee of the Year Award. The Award is named after the late Dr. Salmon, one of the nation's outstanding advocates for people who are blind.

"Harold has been a hardworking member of the GIB team for the past 25 years," said GIB Co-Director Luis Narimatsu. "We're proud of him to represent Georgia on the national stage. He certainly deserves the honor."
Pictured below from left: IE Alina Garcia Ravelo , Co-Director Luis Narimatsu, RAFB Supervisor Shaun Daniels, GIB Employee of the Year Harold Newbold . The selfie was taken by Sen. Perdue.

GIB Featured in NIB Magazine
Georgia Industries for the Blind was featured in the National Industries for the Blind seasonal magazine that goes out nationwide. Congratulations to GIB on the recognition!
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RWS CNA Students Find Jobs

All five Certified Nursing Assistant students who recently graduated from Roosevelt Warm Springs have already passed their certification and are onto the world of employment. They found out they passed on June 30.

Coordinator of the RWS CNA Training Program Lynn Arndt had this to say: "These five students worked very hard just to get to the point of taking their CNA state exam. Our program is 12 weeks long, and they must maintain at least an 80 average and perform 22 skills with 100% accuracy before receiving their training certificate. Having smaller classes and two instructors ensures that our students with learning/ physical/mental disorders receive the one-onone attention they need in order to achieve success in this program. We are as proud of each of our graduates as they are of their own accomplishments."

The now-certified students are , Kimberly Ross, Albany Sexton, Xuan Hoang, Devon McCollough and Voneeka Watson.

Calendar of Events

WIOA Convening Conference July 19-20 Infinite Energy Center Duluth, GA

State Rehabilitation Council Meeting September 5 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, GA

Georgia Rehabilitation Association Annual Conference September 6-8 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, GA

GVRA Leadership Summit November Date and Location TBD

GVRS Board Meeting September 6 Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, GA
www.gvs.ga.gov
Twitter.com/gavocrehab

Printed at Roosevelt Warm Springs

Facebook.com/gavocrehab
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