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Unmasking Moebius Syndrome: Katrina Donovan's Inspirational Journey

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At a recent staff meeting in Hampton Roads, we had the privilege of hosting a remarkable individual, Katrina Donovan, whose presence left a profound impact on all of us. Her inspiring story shed light on Moebius Syndrome, an infrequent neurological disorder that affects individuals in unique ways. As Katrina stood before us, her intelligence, kindness, confidence, and sense of humor were evident, making her advocacy work for Moebius Syndrome all the more remarkable. "My name is Katrina, and I have Moebius Syndrome," she began, introducing herself to the attentive audience. Hailing from Smithfield, Virginia, USA, Katrina shared that she is a proud mother of three beautiful and intelligent children unaffected by the syndrome. Thanks to early diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, and three eye surgeries before the age of eight, Katrina was able to receive crucial support to manage her condition. Moebius Syndrome is an incredibly rare congenital neurological disorder characterize

We'll Weather the Weather, Whatever the Weather

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Christian McBee, a current high school student, has long held a fascination with the field of meteorology. Recently he was given an opportunity that is sure to be remembered for years to come. In a virtual meeting facilitated by his counselor, Billy Kraus, Christian had the privilege of engaging with Ricky Matthews, a local meteorologist. In preparation for the meeting, Christian carefully prepared a set of questions, which he eagerly posed to Ricky. In return, Ricky provided Christian and Billy a virtual tour of the news station, giving a glimpse into their data collection equipment, including their weather radar. Ricky then showed Christian how he uses the data that they collect to make the infographics they use on air. The meeting proved to be an incredibly rewarding and enjoyable experience for everyone. As his time with WBLE drew to a close, Christian found himself drawn to meteorology so much that he is now exploring the prospect of pursuing meteorology as an academic path. It so

Justin Cording: Newly Certified Work Incentives Benefit Practitioner

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We are pleased to extend a warm welcome to Justin Cording to the Benefits Counseling team. Justin has been with The Choice Group for 4 years and is also the Lead Vocational Counselor for the Charlottesville region. Notably, Justin has recently completed his certification as a Work Incentives Benefit Practitioner through Cornell University and has already begun working with clients to provide benefits counseling. This pivotal support aids our clients in understanding the connection between their earnings and the potential impact on their Social Security and Medicaid benefits. We commend Justin for his noteworthy accomplishments and enthusiastically welcome him to the Benefits Counseling team!
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                                     We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ethan, a distinguished participant in our esteemed Pre-ETS program. Ethan is currently in the second week of his Shielded Metal Arc Welding course at a local community class.  He recently participated in a class contest where participants were challenged to weld two bars to replicate a precise model. Ethan's exceptional craftsmanship shone through, earning him the well-deserved distinction of first place. As the victor, Ethan was awarded his very own DeWalt Grinder! As Ethan nears the culmination of his course, we are thrilled to share that he has secured a position in a paid apprentice program, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his professional journey. Furthermore, we are delighted to announce that Ethan's will then transition into the realm of adult Vocational Rehabilitation services. Please join us in applauding Ethan’s outstanding achievements!  For additional information rega

Counselors on the Move

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  We extend our heartfelt appreciation to The Choice Group counselors, Rita Dee and Christine Clayton, for their exceptional representation of our organization at the Norfolk Transition Agency Tour in May. The Norfolk Transition Agency Tour is an post-secondary transition planning event designed to offer invaluable information to currently enrolled adult students or parents/guardians of students with intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, and/or autism who are receiving services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The agencies who participated boast an extensive track record of assisting individuals with disabilities in Virginia as they make the critical transition from high school to adulthood.  Rita and Christine’s involvement in the tour exemplifies their commitment to providing comprehensive guidance and support to individuals with special needs. We commend them for their remarkable contributions and once again extend our immense gratitude. for their inval