The Choice Group

                                     We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ethan, a distinguished participant in our esteemed Pre-ETS program. Ethan is currently in the second week of his Shielded Metal Arc Welding course at a local community class.  He recently participated in a class contest where participants were challenged to weld two bars to replicate a precise model. Ethan's exceptional craftsmanship shone through, earning him the well-deserved distinction of first place. As the victor, Ethan was awarded his very own DeWalt Grinder! As Ethan nears the culmination of his course, we are thrilled to share that he has secured a position in a paid apprentice program, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his professional journey. Furthermore, we are delighted to announce that Ethan's will then transition into the realm of adult Vocational Rehabilitation services. Plea...

  We extend our heartfelt appreciation to The Choice Group counselors, Rita Dee and Christine Clayton, for their exceptional representation of our organization at the Norfolk Transition Agency Tour in May. The Norfolk Transition Agency Tour is an post-secondary transition planning event designed to offer invaluable information to currently enrolled adult students or parents/guardians of students with intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, and/or autism who are receiving services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The agencies who participated boast an extensive track record of assisting individuals with disabilities in Virginia as they make the critical transition from high school to adulthood.  Rita and Christine’s involvement in the tour exemplifies their commitment to providing comprehensive guidance and support to individuals with special needs. We commend them for their remarkable contributions and once again extend our immense gratitude. for th...

Lizzie Colin and her mother, Irene, are the perfect pair. Lizzie is visually impaired but has never let that stop her from seeking the normalcies of life or advocating for representation. As her mother, Irene has been by Lizzie’s side every step of the way. “As a parent of a child with different needs, I have never worried about her ability to have a job and live independently. I have often worried more about other people's perceptions of her abilities – mostly because of preconceived ideas of what value a person who is blind can bring to the workforce,” said Irene. Getting through the application process and even to the interview is never a problem for Lizzie. However, it is often her white cane that gives employers pause as she walks through the door. “I believe everyone who wants to work should be afforded the opportunity. I feel the pandemic was a godsend to people with disabilities who wanted to work because it brought telework to an acceptable form of employment,” said Irene....

Meredith, a client of The Choice Group, is truly a jack-of-all-trades. She plays soccer, basketball, and tennis, and is very active in the Special Olympics. She loves the travel involved with competing in regional and national championships. Meredith had an unforgettable experience playing a crocodile in the play Peter Pan, which she did through an art inclusion company. Meredith never ceases to amaze herself and those around her. A fiercely loyal and dedicated person, Meredith has worked for the same employer since 2006. She has become well-known at work and is enjoying being involved in the social aspects of her job. Meredith recently won the cornhole tournament at a work event where she was partnered with one of the owners of her company. Way to go, Meredith! We’re so proud of all of your hard work.

At The Choice Group, we provide individual Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLEs) to students to help them explore different work areas in their community. Experiences may include job shadowing, informational interviews, and employer and industry tours. Recently Ethan, one of our Pre-ETS students, had the opportunity to suit up and try his hand at welding at a local community college. Ethan enjoyed the experience so much that he decided to sign up for their welding training program. We are so excited that our Pre-ETS program may have helped Ethan discover his future career in welding! To learn more about our Pre-ETS program visit our website .