The Choice Group

Myths about the Americans with Disabilities Act July 25, 2017 John Duvall Fuse Workforce Management In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, prohibiting employers, schools, and public places from discriminating against anyone on the basis of their disabilities, and requiring them to provide reasonable accommodations. However, even after nearly 30 years with this law in place, many employers still don’t understand their obligations, and often carry misconceptions about hiring workers with disabilities. Let’s take a look at some common myths about hiring employees with disabilities, and whether there’s any truth to them. Myth #1: It’s expensive to accommodate employees with disabilities Not true. In fact, most employers (at least 73 percent) will pay nothing at all to accommodate employees with disabilities in the workplace. Of the workplaces that do need additional accommodations put in place, over half of them will incur expenses ...

Jason Massenburg Jason and I have worked together for a little over 4 years now. He was assigned to me under situational assessments and did so well at an Office Assistant assessment he was hired on the spot at Home Sweet Home Care in Smithfield. He has been working there for about 4 years. The owner, Shirley McGee, and staff at Home Sweet Home Care are incredibly supportive of Jason and always look out for him. The owner and staff say they love Jason and that he is a joy to have in their office. Jason uses a wheelchair and has left side paralysis so he was initially referred for situational assessments to see what his employment strengths and likes were.  After learning about Jason’s preferences, we did one prior assessment trying silverware rolling, but due to his hand strength and left side paralysis, it was not a good fit. Next, we tried the Office Assistant assessment at Home Sweet Home Care. He did terrifically and the owner was impressed with Jason and with supp...

While not quite in time to enjoy all the Hollywood Holiday film releases, this new rule will take effect January 17th of next year, still a terrific time to catch those Oscar buzz movies! Movie Theaters Target of New ADA Mandate By: Shaun Heasley  Dec 5, 2016 The Obama administration is implementing a new regulation that will require the nation’s movie theaters to do more to accommodate people with disabilities. Under a final rule published in the Federal Register this month, theaters will be required to provide closed captioning and audio description for any digital movie that is distributed with such accessibility features. Though the Americans with Disabilities Act has long mandated auxiliary aids and similar accommodations at public facilities, the U.S. Department of Justice said it moved to clarify the obligations of movie theaters in response to widespread complaints from the disability community about the lack of captioning and audio description at cinemas ac...

We work with our clients as well as their employers, too. We promote inclusive atmospheres within the workplace so everyone can be happy working as a team!

Rhonda from Charlottesville loves the new found independence she gained from being employed! 

    At The Choice Group, we strive to help people with disabilities discover their ability.  This includes young adults in transitional periods of their lives.  From leaving home for the first time to attend postsecondary schools, to preparing meals, or scheduling transportation, The Choice Group is here to help our clients work through any challenges they may face step by step.      A greater awareness of issues like accessibility and inclusive work or educational environments help make these transitions less daunting for people with disabilities.  This article by Michelle Diament sheds light on how unprepared universities seem to be for the growing number of students with disabilities, and how we need to step up the game! Greater Transparency Urged for College Disability Services Amid concerns from advocates, a U.S. senator is calling on federal education officials to make information about disability services at the nation’...

     Adair Jensen-Smith received the President’s Award from the Virginia Rehabilitation Association. This award is given to an individual for outstanding service to the association and its goals.  It was noted that Adair always goes above and beyond and at The Choice Group we already know this and that is one of the many reasons we appreciate her and honor her!

      Meet our Virginia Beach Staff!  With such a large area to serve, including an abundant military presence, our counselors are dedicated to their clients.  It is a source of deep personal satisfaction when we help our clients achieve a new level of independence through gainful employment.  Some of our clients are looking to supplement their disability benefits while others are working to achieve full financial independence through various programs such as Ticket to Work.  Whatever your financial goals, finding meaningful employment can be a part of a well-rounded, enriching lifestyle.  Our knowledgeable and resourceful staff can help you lay the groundwork for whatever your employment goals may be. Tracie Showalter Renee Arnold Kim Heisser Lisa Handke Rebecca Allen Sarah Morgan Kim Yoakum Rachel McGregor Liz Collison Katherine Edwards Roxanne Monroe Amorita Clark Nanc...

     We have four offices throughout Virginia dedicated to helping people with disabilities find meaningful employment.  Our staff goes above and beyond every day to help people understand their benefits, find a job suited for them, and help their clients reach goals they might not have thought previously possible.  This is why we'd like to introduce our enthusiastic counselors in the Northern Virginia area that are committed to helping our clients reach their employment goals. James Tarawali Shadi Zadeh Kisha Joseph Tiffany Brown Jamie Malloy Erica Johnson - Manager John Callahan Travis Greene Kim Warfield Stephanie Hill - Lead Counselor

A recent article on Disability Scoop by Shaun Heasley sheds light on the funding that will be shared with our great state of Virginia to make employment for people with disabilities a reality. Millions Pledged For Vocational Rehabilitation The U.S. Department of Education is handing out more than $12.6 million designed to enhance employment outcomes for people with disabilities. The money from the agency’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services will be divvied among agencies in 10 locales across the country to “help improve the outcomes of individuals with disabilities — from cradle through career,” the Education Department said. Some of the grants are for centers that offer technical assistance while other funds will go toward programs aimed at pairing people with disabilities looking for jobs with employers struggling to find workers with specific skills. “We want all individuals with disabilities to have opportunities and succeed,” said U.S. Secreta...

     Early in Ayeisha’s life, when first beginning a new career in New York City, she had big responsibilities.  She was in charge of the printing department at a major company, using creativity and technical know how to problem solve solutions for those within her company.  She got things done.      Because of a stroke Ayeisha suffered in her twenties, she incurred a brain injury which caused Hemi-Paresis.  Hemi-Paresis left her without the use of the dominant side of her body, meaning that even simple tasks had to be re-learned.  After the brain injury, Ayeisha moved to Richmond to be closer to her family.      When Pam first started working with Ayeisha, it seemed that office work would be her best fit considering her previous responsibilities.  When starting employment at Feed More Inc. her responsibilities included a lot of computer and phone work.      “Sometimes it’s hard to place a...

At The Choice Group, we always strive for inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce. There are so many benefits gained by including diverse groups of people in this field, the studies are overwhelming.  Yet, there still seems to be a stigma held by employers on hiring a person with a disability. This article by Shanna Belott really outlines how everyone is affected by this "sector of our population," and how we can change for the better! Think the Disability Inclusion Movement Isn't About You? Think Again Twenty-five years ago, the  Americans With Disabilities Act  (ADA), ushered in a new era of opportunity and expectation for people with disabilities. But this landmark legislation paved just the start of the civil rights struggle for those with disabilities, particularly developmental disabilities. The next phase of the battle is changing hearts and minds.  Sixty million Americans live with some form of disability, including disability acqu...

      This month, JAN, the Job Accommodations Network, released the findings of a study they conducted beginning in 2004.  JAN is a service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy of the U.S. Department of Labor.  Interviewing over 2,000 employers, the JAN report covers a range of industry sectors and sizes.  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act and regulations from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission refocused attention on workplace accommodations by broadening the definition of disability.  In interviewing employers, the study found that cost of accommodations was a concern of employers, however, the study showed that workplace accommodations are not only low cost but positively impacts the workplace in many ways.       These are their main findings: 1.  Employers want to provide accommodations so they can retain valued and qualified employees 2.  Most employers rep...

This past Sunday was the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act being passed.  The president spoke on the progress that has been made since the ADA has been in effect and how progress needs to continue in the advocacy of inclusion for people with disabilities.  The young lady whose story follows is her personal reflection on the struggles she faced as a deafblind student and how she was motivated to become an advocate herself.  Not only were her barriers external, she fought an internal battle to succeed.  She fights for equality in technological access for people with disabilities, which is a vital component in almost every aspect of living in today's web-based world.  Read on to be inspired. I recently had the honor of introducing President Obama at a White House reception commemorating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The President shared a moving story of how, in the years before Congress passed the ADA, his fath...

    Sunday, July 26th is the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  President Obama made a speech last week stating that while this Act has moved us forward when it comes to making this nation “belong” to everyone by ensuring equality for people with disabilities, there is still a long way to go.  He specifically mentioned the ever growing awareness of inequality in the workplace for those with disabilities, noting that talented, willing and able people who “have so much to contribute” are still unemployed.        It’s true that statistics has shown disparaging numbers of unemployed people with disabilities but, with the array of new laws and awareness that currently surrounds this issue, The Choice Group is proud to be a part of progress on this front.  The article by Michelle Diament on DisabilityScoop.com is as follows: Obama: ADA 'Fight is Not Over' In marking a quarter century sinc...