Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, 2019 July

Our Shared
Duty
July 2019

In This Issue
Page 3 -- Executive Director Shawn Ryan on Duty Page 4 -- The June RWS Graduation Page 5 -- Crossing the State at CSC Page 6 -- TEAM 26 Job Readiness Workshop Page 7 -- The Annual GAD Conference Page 8 -- Career X Week at Cave Spring Center Page 9 -- July's DAS Employee of the Month Page 9 -- Working With Deaf Clients Page 10 -- Analyzing A&Is Page 11 -- Get to Know a Legislator Page 12 -- The Georgia Vision Alliance Page 13 -- Upcoming Events Calendar
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Diligence in Our Duty
By Executive Director Shawn Ryan

but because of the mere physical or sensory inaccessibility of many work environments. Today, a freshman entering high school with an Individualized Education Plan faces a dramatically different landscape. While accommodations and supports may play into their future pursuits, they have a better chance than ever to plan for full inclusion into a competitive and integrated workforce.

Over the Fourth of July holiday, many of you with social media accounts saw countless posts expressing gratitude for our freedom and appreciation for the military men and women whose service has made that freedom possible. I esteem with an extra measure of deference anyone whose commitment to the liberty of others places them in harm's way. We can certainly learn from our nation's finest and bravest. While our jobs may not call us to physical danger, I take seriously the opportunity we at Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) have to ensure those with disabilities may access all the rights and privileges this great country affords their non-disabled peers.

With progress broadening opportunities for those we are called to assist, we must be more serious than ever about the work at hand. This sense of duty must permeate not just Vocational Services but all of our administrative departments and other programs. Every authorization processed, invoice entered or spreadsheet generated means frontline staff have the support and resources essential to serve our clients and claimants. By the same vein, every delay means progress is bogged down for people who have come to us trusting we will help them achieve employment and independence. We must not fail them. Our clients deserve a GVRA that takes its responsibilities as seriously as they take their futures.
I appreciate each GVRA colleague who understands the importance of our mission, who resists apathy, and who is willing to work tirelessly on behalf of Georgians with disabilities. I look forward to building a better GVRA with you.

Next year, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turns 30 years old. That means many working at this agency today remember when a job, much less a career, was a long shot for young people with disabilities, not because of their ineptitude
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Crossing the Stage
Summer Graduation at RWS

Fifty three students participated in graduation ceremonies on June 26th at Roosevelt Warm Springs Vocational Rehabilitation Campus.
Dr. Zelphine Smith-Dixon, Director of Special Education for the Georgia Department of Education, delivered the commencement address.
During her remarks, Dr. Smith-Dixon congratulated the students on their moment of excellence and challenged them to even greater excellence in the future. "This is not the end," she said, "but the beginning. How will you make this world a better place? This world is waiting on you."
After her speech, Dr. Smith-Dixon assisted GVRA Executive Director Shawn Ryan in the distribution of certificates to the honorees. A special reunion took place during the ceremony. While Willie Sanders was receiving his graduation certificate, his sister Tracie Sanders emerged from back stage to

give him a hug. Ms. Sanders had been on deployment with the United States Army, and Willie had not seen her in many months. His sister's attendance at the graduation had been a secret until she walked onto the stage.
Jonathan Evens, a June 2016 RWS graduate, delivered the charge to the students, sharing with them the story of his success and encouraging them to never give up on their dreams.
RWS holds two graduation ceremonies each year. A total of 69 students had qualified for the June ceremony. As reported on graduation day, more than 50 percent of the graduates already had jobs in their home towns and more than 80 percent of those students still living on campus had employment interviews scheduled.
The next RWS graduation ceremony will take place in December.

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The Next Chapter
Another Graduation at CSC

A few days prior to the RWS graduation highlighted in the previous pages, Cave Spring Center (CSC) also played host to a summer graduation for students.
Welcoming everyone to the event was CSC Director Russell Fleming who spoke of the students' goals as they related to starting their career.
Russell yielded the stage to keynote speaker Leanne Johnson, who runs Thrive Autism Consulting. Leanne said that her first experience with disability was both memorable and almost incomprehensible for a grade schooler. Before her 12th birthday, a friend of Leanne's who had cerebral palsy passed away, and this event would forever change Leanne's life.
Fast forward more than a decade. Upon giving birth to a child with autism, Leanne was told by doctor's that he will never speak to her, never truly understand her as his mother. But the doctors were wrong.
"We took it one day at a time, and now I

have an eight year old. A social and speaking eight year old," she said. "Everyone is special, and everyone deserves a chance to live the best life they can live."
After having her second child with autism, Leanne knew that she wanted to give back to the community and provide resources were they were lacking. As a result, she started the nonprofit Thrive Autism Consulting, a partner of GVRA whose aim is to help those with autism grow to live and work independently.
Following the keynote speech, GVRA Executive Director Shawn Ryan congratulated the dozen graduates and helped in the presentation of diplomas as each graduate made their way from their seats to the stage to be recognized.
"Life is full of challenges. They're not going to stop," he said. "But you know that when you work hard, you can overcome them."

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Teaming Up
The Recent TEAM 26 Job Workshop
GVRA's TEAM 26 recently played host to Veterans Job Readiness Workshop Series/Mini-Job Fair. The event, held at the Riverside EpiCenter in Austell, was a result of a partnership with Lisa Cupid, Cobb County District 4 Commissioner.
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GAD You're Here
GVRA at Annual
By Project Independence Program Manager Kay McGill

Georgia Association of the Deaf (GAD) held its 55th Biannual Conference at the Atlanta School for the Deaf in Atlanta from June 79.
Established in 1910, the Georgia Association of the Deaf is the largest Deaf organization that focuses on persons with hearing loss in Georgia. The main goal of GAD is to bring persons with hearing loss in Georgia together to advocate for equal rights.
On June 8, Kay McGill, who heads GVRA's Project Independence, presented to the GAD membership on her group's efforts to help the community. The focus of the presentation was to provide an overview of

the program, share resources and demonstrate various aids and devices to those persons with a dual vision and hearing loss.
Project Independence provides daily living skills training to persons who are 55 years of age and older who have a significant vision impairment or who have the dual vision and hearing loss. Pairing a presentation to GAD on Project Independence was a new effort. The participants seemed to welcome the information and resources.

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Career X Week at Cave Spring
Nearly a dozen young people got on-the-job experience at the recent Career E(X)ploration Week at Cave Spring Center. The event was aimed at helping students with disabilities get a better gauge of what opportunities are available to them in the working world.
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Congratulations!
July's DAS Employee of the Month

The following nomination was submitted by Dianna Scherer in the category of Teamwork:
Ms. Kara Russell is one of best team players I have had the privilege to work with at DAS. When a unit member is on leave, she completes her assigned work coverage and then searches through the caseload to find other actions she can take to assist her coworkers.
Ms. Russell also readily shares her expertise. She worked with a unit member who was

struggling with caseload management and enabled that person to reduce her caseload significantly. What is more impressive is that with the skills that adjudicator learned, she has been able to maintain an acceptable caseload size.
Ms. Russell is seen regularly conferring with the others regarding the processing of difficult claims. She is truly an asset to the agency and to her unit. I am proud to nominate Kara Russell as employee of the month.

Getting the Job Done
Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clients

Are you experiencing an increase in service outreach to clients who are Deaf or have hearing loss?
Do you wish you knew more about how to adequately accommodate people with hearing loss on the job?
Do you hope to work more effectively and confidently with this population?
This one day seminar is your starting point.

Staffing and HR Professionals To register, please email Rebecca.Cowan -Story@gvs.ga.gov.
July 23 in Dallas July 24 in Rome 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days

Join us for a day of professional development hosted by the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.
The target audience includes the following: Job Coaches Job readiness Instructors Employment Consultants Job Developers

DALLAS GVRA 101 Bainbridge Way Suite 100 Dallas, GA 30132
Rome GVRA 450 Riverside Pkwy Suite 200 Rome, GA 30161

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Analyzing A&Is
VR Team Works to Lower Processing Time
In these pictures, Metro VR staff work on outstanding A&Is (authorization and invoice). Statewide, GVRA has a goal of processing all A&I's within 90 days.
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Get to Know a Legislator
This Month We Feature Dale Washburn

Dale Washburn grew up in Jones County, the oldest of four sons. He received his formal education in the Jones County Public School System and at Macon State College.
He entered the real estate brokerage business in 1975 and has remained active in the real estate business since that time. His experience includes residential and commercial brokerage and development as well as property management, both as a practitioner and as a principal broker who is responsible for the supervision of other agents.
He has been a licensed instructor for several years and owns and operates the Dale Washburn School of Real Estate. He has written a pre license textbook, "Basics in the Business of Real Estate," that he now uses in classes at his school. He also wrote a 25hour post licensing textbook, "You Have a Real Estate License, Now What?" In addition, he has written several continuing education

courses that are approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission.
Dale has been active at every level of the realtor organization having served as Local Board President, GAR Vice President and several terms as NAR Director. He was honored to be the Middle Georgia Association of Realtors Realtor of the Year in 1994 and Georgia Realtor of the Year in 2004.
Dale has been active politically for many years. He served as Vice Chair of the Jones County Commission from 1985 through 1988. He has been involved in the campaigns of a number of congressional and legislative candidates as well as serving as a political activist in the realtor organization for issues involving real estate as well as private property rights.
He is an active member of Ingleside Baptist Church in Macon where he serves as a deacon and adult bible study leader.
He and his wife Donna have been married for 43 years. They have three sons, a daughter, three daughters in law and five grandchildren. They also have an 85-pound mixed breed dog that was rescued from a terrible situation in downtown Macon. He is named Roscoe.
Dale considers it a great honor to have been elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. He is committed to do a good job representing Georgia's families and Georgia Business.

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Let's Talk
The Georgia Vision Alliance

By Directory of Sensory Services Denine Woodson

The annual Georgia Vision Alliance was held on June 15th at the Center for the Visually Impaired in Atlanta. Executive Director Shawn Ryan met with community members from as far away as Savannah to address issues affecting GVRA and the services provided to the Blind community.
Mr. Ryan spoke on upcoming changes to GVRA as a whole. The audience applauded

his commitment to "make GVRA better." Director of Sensory Services Denine Woodson and Assistant Director of Blind Services Shirley Robinson were in attendance as well as new Counselor for the Blind , Jamila Lane. They will incorporate the audience's concerns into action plans for the upcoming year. VR looks to strengthen its services and communication with the community.

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Do your duty
and a little more,
and the future will take care of itself.
~ Andrew Carnegie
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Early August is a busy time for GVRA. Both the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) and the Georgia Vocational Services Board (GVRS) will meet at the annual Georgia Rehabilitation Council Conference in Savannah. If you'd like more information on the council or the board meetings or you'd like to make public comment, please email Michele.Mason@gvs.ga.gov.
August 5 and 6 -- State Rehabilitation Council Meeting August 6 - Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services (GVRS) Board Meeting August 6 through 9 - Georgia Rehabilitation Association (GRA) Conference

www.gvs.ga.gov Twitter.com/gavocrehab Facebook.com/gavocrehab

Printed at Roosevelt Warm Springs
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