The Choice Group

  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

At The Choice Group, we are delighted to bring you some exciting news – our Work Incentives Specialist team, also known as Benefits Counseling, is on the path of incredible growth! Recently, we've had the pleasure of welcoming new certified experts and the return of familiar faces to our ranks. They are committed to assisting our clients in navigating the complexities of Social Security and health benefits while pursuing their professional goals. Let's begin by introducing two exceptional individuals, Jamie Scott-Bryant and Terra Brubaker, both of whom are located in the Hampton Roads area. These remarkable professionals have successfully achieved their certification as Work Incentives Practitioners through Cornell University. Terra extends her services to clients in the Virginia Beach and Norfolk regions, while Jamie primarily focuses on assisting clients within The Choice Group's Ticket to Work program. With their expertise, we can be confident that our client’s benefits

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

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

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!

                                     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

  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

Lizzie Colin and her mother, Irene, are the perfect pair. Lizzie is visually impaired but has never let that stop her from seeking the normalcies of life or advocating for representation. As her mother, Irene has been by Lizzie’s side every step of the way. “As a parent of a child with different needs, I have never worried about her ability to have a job and live independently. I have often worried more about other people's perceptions of her abilities – mostly because of preconceived ideas of what value a person who is blind can bring to the workforce,” said Irene. Getting through the application process and even to the interview is never a problem for Lizzie. However, it is often her white cane that gives employers pause as she walks through the door. “I believe everyone who wants to work should be afforded the opportunity. I feel the pandemic was a godsend to people with disabilities who wanted to work because it brought telework to an acceptable form of employment,” said Irene.

Meredith, a client of The Choice Group, is truly a jack-of-all-trades. She plays soccer, basketball, and tennis, and is very active in the Special Olympics. She loves the travel involved with competing in regional and national championships. Meredith had an unforgettable experience playing a crocodile in the play Peter Pan, which she did through an art inclusion company. Meredith never ceases to amaze herself and those around her. A fiercely loyal and dedicated person, Meredith has worked for the same employer since 2006. She has become well-known at work and is enjoying being involved in the social aspects of her job. Meredith recently won the cornhole tournament at a work event where she was partnered with one of the owners of her company. Way to go, Meredith! We’re so proud of all of your hard work.

At The Choice Group, we provide individual Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLEs) to students to help them explore different work areas in their community. Experiences may include job shadowing, informational interviews, and employer and industry tours. Recently Ethan, one of our Pre-ETS students, had the opportunity to suit up and try his hand at welding at a local community college. Ethan enjoyed the experience so much that he decided to sign up for their welding training program. We are so excited that our Pre-ETS program may have helped Ethan discover his future career in welding! To learn more about our Pre-ETS program visit our website .

Rita Dee has been helping individuals navigate their personal and professional challenges since joining The Choice Group as a counselor in 2015. One of her clients is Adele Lampley, who has been with her current employer in the food industry for seven years, thanks in part to the support and guidance she has received from Rita. Adele has taken on more responsibility throughout her employment. She started in utilities and quickly moved to making chips, preparing taco shells, keeping the dining area clean and sanitized, and even setting up catering. The employees at Adele’s place of employment loudly greet patrons when they enter, which is a perfect fit for her personality. She loves to welcome customers and never misses the opportunity to do so. As her counselor, Rita has helped Adele navigate the challenges of her job and gain practical tools and strategies to manage the demands of her job. One such example is when she campaigned for a user-friendly timer to ensure Adele could successf

Did you know that many Americans can keep more money at tax time by getting free tax preparation from IRS-certified volunteer preparers? The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the AARP Foundation Tax Aide programs provide free preparation from certified tax preparers using rigorous IRS preparation standards.  How to Access Free Tax Assistance Services IRS VITA and AARP Tax Aide sites operate nationwide and offer many convenient options for free tax filing, including in-person service and online, mobile, and drop-off options. IRS Certified VITA and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide preparers offer free tax help to people who need assistance, including: People who generally make $60,000 or less Persons with disabilities Limited English-speaking taxpayers People 60 years old or older Find a VITA or AARP Tax Aide site in your area Additional Resources Online resources also provide the same trusted support from IRS-certified preparers for free. GetYourRefund.org GetYourRefund.org lets y