The Choice Group

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...

A recent article on Disability.gov’s blog, written by Angela M. Hooker, was brought to our attention that highlights a lot of the points we’ve tried to make in our own blog posts.  We want to change perspectives of thinking what people with disabilities CAN’T do, to an inclusive attitude of what they CAN achieve.  We strive to end the misconception that job accommodations have to be expensive and inconvenient. Or, even that hiring a person with a disability means they’ll be somehow less productive or qualified for the job when there are abundant examples of the opposite.  She says: " Are we, through discrimination, fears and preconceptions, depriving our nation of the next Steve Wampler, Stevie Wonder, Stephen Hawking or Stephen Fry — all of whom have disabilities? Imagine our world without the art, skill and knowledge that they bring and contribute to our society. And there are even more dynamic and talented workers out there, and we should have the opportunit...

      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...

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...

      It’s great news to hear that we live in such a progressive state when it comes to showing educational support for our growing children with disabilities.  We strive to help transitioning graduates by continuing their support after graduating and into their college education or blossoming careers.  Helping people with disabilities achieve their maximum potential and leading full happy lives is our ultimate goal and we are happy the Virginia Public School System sees it that way, too! Virginia Schools Earn Top Federal Rating for Serving Students with Disabilities Virginia’s public education system received a pat on the back from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), according to a release out of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s office. The USDE reported Virginia’s public schools registered the nation’s highest overall rating and second-highest score for serving students with disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities ...

      There are a lot of misconceptions out there among employers surrounding the topic of hiring people with disabilities.  False ideas that employees with disabilities will need more sick days or leave, ideas that job accommodations will be costly, and even that work tasks will not be performed to par.  In so many cases, this could not be further from the truth.      The profile of an employee with a disability is that of a top performing employee.  With little to no absences and a steady output of progress on tasks assigned to them, a person with a disability can be the backbone in your workforce.            Job accommodations for people with disabilities are most commonly low-tech solutions that won’t cost the employer very much if anything at all.  Through the Job Accommodations Network (JAN), employers have access to free consultations and advice no matter the size of their busin...

     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...