The Choice Group

     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 year marks the 10th anniversary of a Choice Group client at her present employer, U-Haul. For the purpose of this story, we will call her Laura.      Laura is in her early fifties, and while U-Haul is not her first job, it is where she’s found a home. To mark the occasion, she is receiving a ring engraved with the words “Virtuous, Valiant, Victorious,” and in another 5 years can receive a stone to be placed in the ring.  This is a wonderful honor for Laura and has been accomplished in a joint effort between her and her counselor at The Choice Group, Pam.      Pam has been involved with Laura during 10 years of her employment at U-Haul.  Having worked with The Choice Group for so long, many members of The Choice Group staff has interacted with the client and are recipients of annual Christmas cards from Laura.  She loves staying in contact with everyone that’s been involved with her success.   ...

An article recently written by Jim Denham, "9 Essential Tips for Working with People who are Blind" on Perkins.org expresses what The Choice Group has often said about working with people with various disabilities.  Often times, the solution to making the workplace accessible for people with disabilities is a simple one. Nine essential tips for working with people who are blind JIM DENHAM With more people who are visually impaired in today’s workforce, following these simple do’s and don'ts is smart business etiquette It’s not difficult to work with people who are blind. In fact, if you have coworkers who are visually impaired, or if your job takes you to companies with employees who are blind, following some simple guidelines will make your interactions more respectful and productive. While some of these suggestions may seem like basic common sense, others may not be so obvious. DO identify yourself when initiating a conversation. You shouldn’t assume the...

Bryan standing in front of his workstation Bryan Snow is 25 years old and has now been at his first job ever for a little less than a year.  October of 2015 will mark his one year anniversary at Virginia Elevator Controls.  The company builds the interior of elevators and ships them to national destinations.  Next time you’re in an elevator, it’s likely their name will be there.  Bry an is in charge of packing the product to ship and watching him work, he makes it seem like a breeze.  But, getting to this point was a process and a team effort including those of his counselor, Dana, at The Choice Group. Brian with Dana, his counselor from The Choice Group “No one would talk to him about a job,” said Dana, who’s been with The Choice Group for over a year now.  “We tried to ‘dress him up’” she air quoted when talking about getting him ready for the interview process.  She helped him apply to grocery stores at first, thinking that stocking...

      Recently, The Choice Group was fortunate enough to have a dynamic guest speaker.  She is almost fully blind and has been most of her life.  Her experience is not unique, but her perspective on disability is.  She shared with us this perspective and how she gained it when seeking to learn the martial art of Krav Maga.      When she first approached her martial arts teacher revealing her desire to learn Krav Maga, he sat in thoughtful contemplation for a minute, before replying.      “Krav Maga is a striking art, which relies heavily on awareness from a distance of your opponent’s motions and location.  What if you tried Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, instead?” He replied.  “It’s a grappling art, and might be better suited to someone with reduced vision.  Lots of people practice Jiu-Jitsu with their eyes closed.  You are in close contact with your opponent the whole time, which would allow y...

     These individuals represent what is possible with the strategy that we, at The Choice Group, implement when helping young people through a crucial time in their lives.  Making the transition from high school to college, school to work,  living at home to living on your own can all be exciting and challenging for any individual.  People with disabilities face unique challenges when it comes to the changes they’re facing at this stage in their lives.      We believe in centering our support around the individual’s needs.  Helping them with things like transportation and finance to gain their maximum independence and achieve continuing success.  Success, we believe, is found by reducing support over time once the individual has had practice at tasks such as cooking, laundry and housekeeping.  Walking, busing, biking to and from school or work is key to an independent and healthy lifestyle that builds confidence and f...