The Choice Group

Nancy McNamara is the Lead Counselor in the Hampton Roads area and has been working at The Choice Group for over four years now.  While she says that she has had many memorable experiences during her time here, one in particular stands out in the last year.   “It was it was a great pleasure to be able to assist a client with multiple felonies who was just released from prison to get back into the workforce doing cabinetmaking which he learned while in prison by working with DARS to promote On the Job Training (OJT) for the client with an employer. I was able to get the employer to give the client a chance,  and he is now successfully in Long-Term Employment Support Services (LTESS). He recently attended a job fair via DARS for people coming out of the prison system and shared his success story and how OJT and working with DARS and The Choice Group helped him re-enter society and the workforce successfully.” She loves seeing her clients grow and succeed...

This article originally appeared on DisabilityScoop.com Feds Offer Up Millions to Boost Disability Employment By Shaun Heasley Millions of dollars are up for grabs designed to help states improve services for people with disabilities seeking work. The U.S. Department of Labor said it is making $15.6 million available to states to increase participation by those with disabilities in education and training programs to prepare them for employment. The funding will be distributed as eight grants ranging from $1.5 to $2.5 million apiece, the agency said. At least one project will be selected focusing on each of three demographic groups — individuals ages 14 and up with significant disabilities, young people with disabilities ages 14 to 24 and adults with disabilities ages 18 and over. “People with disabilities have tremendous talents and ideas to contribute to our workplaces, our communities and our nation’s economy,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez. “The funding ...

Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Specialist -Various locations within Virginia Do you have education or experience in human services and/or counseling, as well as experience and training in the implementation of state and federal benefits and work incentives? Put your skills and passions to work helping individuals with disabilities achieve independence, vocational success, and other goals. This is not an office job. Exact hours will depend on your clients' needs. You must have a valid driver’s license, dependable transportation, ability to plan your day and then shift gears, if necessary, to accommodate last-minute developments. We will consider part-time and full-time submissions. Job Description: Provide support to clients who are receiving disability benefits through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplement Security Income (SSI) programs. Essential to this position is the ability to understand complex benefits and work incentive pr...

Attend Ticket to Work Job Fair March 16th! The Ticket to Work program will host its next Virtual Job Fair on March 16, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. The job fair is sponsored by Social Security and will connect you to companies that work with the government. These companies have job openings for individuals with many different skill and experience levels and are particularly interested in hiring qualified people with disabilities. The participating employers will have job openings in one or more of the following locations: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico. Current Ticket to Work Participants If you are using your Ticket to receive services from an approved Employment Network (EN) or your State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agency, and are ready to work, you should register for the fair! Contact your EN or State VR agency to find out how to register for the Virtual Job Fair o...

     There can be a variety of obstacles our clients can face when seeking employment.  They are as diverse as our clients themselves.  One of our clients in particular, Ms. Smith, has not only overcome many obstacles but some of the hardest challenges anyone can face, period.  Yet, through it all, she never stopped striving to achieve her goals.  She asked us to share her story, so anyone going through similar hardships can find encouragement.      Ms. Smith* has always been a hard worker.  Seven years ago, before developing her disability, she held two jobs.  She was a customer service representative at Greyhound and a restaurant manager, both of which required her to stand for long periods of time.  When she developed Lymphodema in her legs, she was no longer capable of standing the required amount of time during her 4 to 8-hour shifts.  Lymphodema causes fluid to build in the limbs and It became clear that sh...

Take a look at some of the valuable services and supports that DARS can provide for individuals with disabilities and what this has meant for a young man with autism as he has progressed through postsecondary education and  preparing for his ideal  job in the technology industry.