The Choice Group

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

My client, Justin, works at Walmart in Locust Grove, VA as a Maintenance Associate. Justin has worked at Walmart since it’s opening in July 2013. I started working with Justin when I joined The Choice Group in September 2013 and have continued to work with him through Follow-Along checks each month. Justin has chronic kidney failure and a Specific Learning Disability, which has presented some challenges with maintaining employment. Due to the kidney failure, Justin is unable to work in extreme heat and drinks water throughout his work shifts to maintain his health. When completing computer-based training, as required by his employer, Justin requires my assistance with reading and comprehension of information. Justin is a care-free individual, with high motivation to work, and a desire to contribute to society. Because of his positive, go-getter attitude, Justin comes to Walmart to work even on days that he is not scheduled. He lives in a neighborhood directly behind Walmart, making it ...

There are many incentives and benefits across the board for small businesses to hire with diversity in mind.  This is a great guide to some potential tax benefits to hiring workers with disabilities and even includes a resource list to help you approximate tax credits! Tax Credits for Hiring Workers With Disabilities By: Paul Chaney Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and create 65 percent of new net jobs, according to the Small Business Administration (PDF). How can small businesses, facing constant financial pressure and increasing government regulations, ensure continued growth? One way is to hire people with disabilities. To help employers capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities can offer, the Federal Government offers three types of tax credits : Disabled Access Credit, Architectural Barrier Removal Tax Deduction and Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Disabled Access Credit The Disabled Access Credit — a non-refundable ann...

Pauline Jackson has been a Deli Clerk at Great Valu in Wakefield, VA for three years now this June. When I first met Pauline, she was not confidence in herself even though she was clearly super capable. I was new at TCG and she was one of my first job placements. At first, when she mastered job duties at the job, she was nervous of me fading.  But, once she realized she was okay on her own, things steadily got better and better. She's now completely independent. I continue to monitor her progress, through monthly Follow Along services and always check with her manager to ensure stability. Pauline assists customers with deli orders and also does some cooking and food prep.  She is one of the sweetest people I know. She always has a smile on her face, and she has a great sense of humor! Her direct manager always says every single month what a joy and pleasure it is to work with her. Great Valu is a family business/grocery store run by Tom and Wendy Gar...

A recent article from DisabilityScoop.com  by Shaun Heasley points to hope for unemployment among people with disabilities!  Unemployment dropped by almost 2% from February to March.  While this isn't a monumental change, it is the beginning of what is hoped to be a larger trend. Disability Unemployment Rate Sees Improvement by Shaun Heasley April 1, 2016 An increasing number of Americans with disabilities are finding work, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Figures released Friday as part of the agency’s monthly employment report indicate that the unemployment rate for those with disabilities fell to 10.8 percent last month. That’s a drop from 12.5 percent the month prior. The change reflects a growing population of people with disabilities who are seeking out work and finding it. At the same time, unemployment for the general population remained largely unchanged at 5 percent as the economy added 215,000 jobs last month. Federal of...

This is great news regarding the representation of people with disabilities in the workforce!  This article from DisabilityScoop.com  outlines goals the EEOC is trying to achieve with policy change and how it will attempt to enforce them. Federal Proposal Calls for Disability Hiring Quota By: Shaun Heasley Under a new proposal, the federal government would be required to take sweeping steps to utilize affirmative action to increase the number of workers with disabilities in its ranks. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said this week that it is proposing a rule that would require federal agencies to work toward a 12 percent workforce representation rate for people with disabilities and a 2 percent representation rate for those with targeted or severe conditions including intellectual disability. Moreover, the rule calls for government agencies to provide personal assistance to employees with disabilities who need help with eating, using the restroom a...