GVRA Staff Provides Valuable Guidance to Families at Savannah Parent-Mentor Meeting

ATLANTA, GA — Key staff from the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) was on hand at the Parent-Mentor meeting held in Savannah on January 24, engaging families and responding to questions about services offered through the agency.

The event, organized by State Rehabilitation Council Chairwoman Juliet Hardeman, brought together counselors, providers, parents, and students to offer parents an opportunity to learn more about state and federal services for which their children can apply once they graduate from high school. 

“Too often, little information is shared with parents of individuals with disabilities regarding supports that are available to young adults in their post-education outcomes,” said Hardeman.  “These conversations are usually held late in a student’s high school career, so parents don’t have a lot of time to make plans for their child.  And students who attend private schools or who are homeschooled are frequently not connected to any state or federal agencies after graduation.  The purpose of these transition planning meetings is to make parents and students aware of available supports way ahead of their graduation date,” she concluded.

District Six Manager Lee Davis and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Transition Supervisor Cherri Black were on hand to answer questions from parents and students during the event sponsored by the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society. The gathering afforded Davis and Black an opportunity to meet parents and to discuss the array of services GVRA offers to students with disabilities once they graduate from high school.

 “I am grateful Mr. Davis and Ms. Black were able to join us, as well as representatives from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.  Their participation will improve post-school outcomes for many special needs students,” stated Hardeman.