Crystal and Steven MacArthur are the typical brother and sister: they enjoy watching football with their mom, attending their church, and spending time with their family, dog, and friends. Despite some sibling eye-rolling, they look out for each other. They also enjoy working. When looking for part-time positions, they wanted an employer where they could stay long-term. Crystal became a dishwasher for a staffing company at a Virginia university. She initially worked in the Annex, a smaller cafeteria off campus. She hand-washed dishes and eventually learned to use the automatic machine. Because Crystal has a visual impairment, Crystal’s co-workers always looked out for her, letting her know when the floor was wet or if there were crates that might get in her way. She became part of the team, discussing sports games and weekend plans while keeping up with the breakfast and lunch rush....
By: Billy Kraus, Employment Counselor Service Area: Virtual PEERS courses throughout Virginia When I first began working with Dexter in December 2024, he was a bright, kind, and creative young man with a goal that so many of our students share. He wanted meaningful work, real independence, and a chance to contribute in a workplace where he could thrive. What he needed most was support building his confidence and strengthening his communication skills so he could feel prepared stepping into competitive employment. Through several months of Pre-Employment Transition Services and Situational Assessments, we were able to better understand Dexter’s strengths, interests, and needs. From there, he participated in our PEERS Social Skills course. This turned out to be a truly pivotal experience for him. During the program, Dexter practiced social awareness, communication strategies, and real world interaction skills. Over time, I watched him gain confidence, find his voice, and begin to truly b...
The Choice Group works collaboratively with DARS, local school districts, and area hospitals to provide students ages 18-22 with a unique post-secondary job-training experience. The end-goal of the program is quite simple… competitive employment in the community. Although the program was virtual at the start of COVID, Ericka Neville, manager of Hampton Roads, was able to re-open this past Spring while observing all COVID-19 guidelines. Over the course of a typical school year, each participant is afforded the opportunity to complete three ten-week internships in a variety of settings across the hospital. By gaining these real-world work experiences and transferable skills, the interns are equipped with the tools necessary to be successful and valuable employees in a competitive job market. The goal for each high school student participant is competitive employment. To reach that goal, the program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and indepe...
Our Vocational counselor, Debby Henry, works in our Northwest area and is proud to have Alexander Marschall as a client. Debby and Alex embarked on their journey together in January of 2023, when Alex began working with his current employer. “Alex is outgoing and personable, he has such a charming personality!” said Debby. He is always willing to learn new tasks and different applications to accommodate some of his disabilities. It was evident to her that Alex's outgoing nature and adaptability would make him an excellent fit with his co-workers. So, they completed situational assessments to determine the ideal jobs for him to pursue. They focused on interview skills with DARS Placement Counselors to arm Alex with the confidence he would need to take on his first job with confidence, starting with the interview process. Since the beginning of the year, Alex has been working as a restaurant host. He welcomes customers, finds available tables to seat customers, provides menus, and...
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