More Than 800 Students with Disabilities to Explore Careers at Georgia National Fair in Perry

Event to recognize October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month 

PERRY, Ga. – The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), in collaboration with the Georgia Farm Bureau, will welcome more than 800 high school students with disabilities to the Georgia National Fair in Perry for a day dedicated to career exploration and work-based learning. This event, held in recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), aims to provide students with meaningful exposure to career opportunities and workforce readiness.

The event will take place on October 3rd, and will feature a variety of interactive educational stations, culminating in a career-focused panel discussion at 2:00 p.m. in Reaves Arena. Students will explore career pathways and post-secondary options, connect academic learning with practical, real-world experiences through live demonstrations and engage with professionals from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Central Georgia Technical College, and Georgia’s Destination Dawgs.

“At GVRA, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to discover their potential and envision a future in which they can thrive,” said GVRA Executive Director Chris Wells. “By preparing and connecting young people with disabilities to real-world career experiences, we are empowering them to take confident steps toward employment and independence.”

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Georgia’s economy, contributing more than $83.6 billion annually and supporting 1.59 million jobs statewide, according to the 2024 Feeding the Economy report.

In addition to student engagement, GVRA will launch a statewide educational outreach campaign during the fair. GVRA staff will be present throughout the fairgrounds to share information with families about the agency’s services and how GVRA supports individuals with disabilities in pursuing employment or maintaining their current jobs.

The Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services Board will also convene on Thursday, October 2nd at 1:00 p.m. in the Roquemore Conference Center at the fairgrounds. This meeting is open to the public.

For additional information, please contact Carla Murphy, Public Affairs Director, at [email protected] or (470) 816-6501, or Jaylen Pope, Communications Specialist, at [email protected] or (404) 985-5857.

About the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency 

Established in July 2012, the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) operates five integrated and interdependent statutory programs that share a primary goal - to serve Georgians with disabilities to empower them to live independent lives.