The Choice Group

Vocational Counselor Rachel McGregor began working with Chanell Teasley in the Summer of 2017. Beginning in September of 2018, Rachel helped her find work at a local elementary school. " Chanell has always had an interest in food services as well as in childcare. We decided to look at a position within the schools where she could blend both interests” McGregor said.  Chanell is very friendly and loves people. She uses her fun personality to interact with the students and also has great attention to detail and is able to learn tasks quickly. Chanell has grown with her independence and confidence as she has been working at the school. Her tasks include but are not limited to prepping the food, serving the students, cleaning the kitchen and washing the dishes as needed. Before finding the job at the local elementary school, Chanell worked on improving her stamina while participating in Project SEARCH. She was able to build up to be able to work for several hours on...

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans live with some type of disability and asking for accommodations or disclosing your disability is a unique situation in the workplace.  This is great advice from the job searching website, Monster.com on just that topic! Talking About your Disability at Work: How to Ask for Accommodations By Dan Woog When it comes to communicating about disabilities in the workplace, the best approach depends on your particular disability, job, supervisor, and personality. Peter Blanck, chairman of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University, says such discussions are tricky, because how and when you disclose a disability at work can have significant career repercussions. This is particularly true if the disability is hidden, such as a mental illness, or has no visible physical symptoms. So should you tell? And if so, how do you conduct the conversation so you get the accommodations you need? Read this expert advice. Considerations Before Disclosing Your ...

It has been rainy and dreary all along the East Coast going on over a week now.  And, after all of the excitement over the bike race, the “slower pace” of these rainy days seems to be affecting Richmond citywide.  This article provides some much needed Monday Inspiration.  It is easy to keep a closed mind about yourself and the world around you and that’s what this article highlights as the biggest disability of all.  Believe in yourself and what we can accomplish as a community through inclusion of everyone.   Here are some of the solutions the article offers: UNCONVENTIONAL SOLUTION TO BIGGEST DISABILITY ON THE  PLANET - Use digital technology to offer free mindfulness training - and practice support - to every person on the planet who can access the Internet. - Prioritize de...

     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.   ...

There are many ways to remove stigmas and eliminate barriers for the employment of people with disabilities.  Many people with disabilities actually avoid seeking employment in fear of losing their disability financial assistance.  The Choice Group has Benefit Counselors to help those seeking more independence through employment understand exactly what it means for their Medicare or Medicaid. Many of our clients have been able to find work while keeping the assistance they currently receive.  Not only do we make sure our clients get the financial assistance that they need, we provide ongoing support to make sure they continue to be successful in their jobs.  Whether you want part-time work, or want to eventually become a full-time financially independent employee, The Choice Group will help you find the path that’s best for you. This story is about a woman living in the U.K. with a learning disability, how she finally reached her goal of full-time employm...

As an animal lover, Nicholas Barker has found a second home working at Petco.  When Dana, a counselor from The Choice Group, and Nick started working together to find employment, his two interests were animals and gaming. When Dana and Nick first started working together, they applied to Game Stop because he has an immense knowledge of many different games.  But, one of the main responsibilities of an employee there would be having to work the cash register and Nick had an aversion to that particular part of the job.  Having Asperger's, social interaction can sometimes be stressful for Nick.  Their next strategy was Petco.  Dana thought perhaps Nick could  find commonality with others through their love of pets.  Because he liked animals so much it seemed like a good fit— and it was!  He began to love the people who shared his passion.  At first, when meeting for an interview, he was very nervous and didn’t necessarily interview the best...

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...