Success Stories
Entrepreneur Defies the Odds with Assistance from GVRA
In 2019, Stephen Thomas was involved in an automobile accident that forever changed his life. He survived the crash, but injuries he sustained caused him to gradually lose his eyesight...
Growing Opportunities: Partnership Connects Students with Disabilities to Agricultural Careers
The partnership between the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) and the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) continues to thrive, rooted in a shared commitment to expanding opportunities for Georgians with disabilities...
Tree of Life Celebrates 10-Year Partnership with GVRA
Since 2015, Tree of Life Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has partnered with GVRA to bring workplace readiness initiatives to individuals with disabilities in the West-Central Georgia area.
Former GVRA Client says Assistive Work Technology put her in the Driver's Seat
At age four, Jasmine Moore was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as Brittle Bones---a genetic disorder. According to research from Johns Hopkins University, Brittle Bones...
"I will always be grateful to my Roosevelt Warm Springs instructors," says May 2024 Logistics/Warehousing Graduate
“When I graduated from Telfair County High School in 2022, I looked into joining the U.S. Army,” said Gabe Materne, a May 2024 graduate of the Roosevelt Warm Springs Vocational Rehabilitation Campus (RWS)...
Shepherd Center and GVRA - Partnering to Improve Outcomes for Brain Injury Clients
“All I can say is God Bless GVRA,” exclaimed Dr. George “Brick” Johnstone, director of Brain Injury Research at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, when asked about the partnership that has developed between the two organizations over the past few years...
BEP Client becomes BEP Contractor: One Man's Journey from Unemployment to Entrepreneurship
“As a blind vendor, how you conduct business affects the entire blind community,” said former GVRA client Chris Ingram during the opening session of the Business Enterprise Program’s 80th Annual Vendor Training Conference in October....
Tommy Nobis Academy Graduates Excel with Assistance from GVRA
After two years of planning, the Academy at Tommy Nobis Center (ATNC) accepted its first cohort of students with disabilities in July of 2023.
Tree of Life Celebrates 10-Year Partnership with GVRA
Since 2015, Tree of Life Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has partnered with GVRA to bring workplace readiness initiatives to individuals with disabilities in the West-Central Georgia area.
Gwinnett County Bus Monitor Job Offers Chance to Give Back, IPSE Graduate Says
“Josh has always loved riding the school bus,” Suzanne Collins said with a smile when asked why her son, Josh Farr, pursued a career as a bus monitor. “
“I would not be successful without assistance from GVRA,” says Army Veteran Turned Entrepreneur
After serving as a medic for 20 years in the U.S. Army, Shane Giltner decided to become self-employed once his military service ended. Shane sustained multiple injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom, a conflict that was fought in 2004...
Bud McCall Grant Recipient Flies High as a Georgia Tech Undergraduate
“There’s no doubt Saif Aslam is a go-getter,” said MaryEllen Mendiratta, a GVRA counselor in the Augusta office who has worked closely with Saif (pronounced “Seff”) during his transition from high school to college. “In a short amount of time, Saif has already become a force on the Georgia Tech campus. For instance, he was elected president of Georgia Tech’s ABLE Alliance...
Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) Graduate Lands Dream Job at University of Georgia
At birth, Jesse Pearson was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, both of which have contributed to his mild intellectual disability.“My disorders result in an assessment indicating Mild Intellectually Disabled/Impaired (MID/I),” Jesse said. “This means that I am challenged with cognitive delay...
GVRA Provides Lifeline to UGA Grad
“I wear my disabilities openly, like badges of honor that tell the story of my resilience,” said Bailey McNeir, a client of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) since 2012. Having been born prematurely, weighing only two pounds and nine ounces, Bailey faced many obstacles growing up...
Licensed Vendor Succeeds in Business, Serves as Mentor to Blind Youth
“My goal is not only to operate a successful business, but to become a mentor for youth who are blind,” said Shelby Ball, a visually impaired vendor in the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency’s (GVRA) Business Enterprise Program (BEP). ..
FedEx Employee Credits Supported Employment Services and GVRA Counseling for His Success
Nathan Johnson Sr. knew his son, Nathan Johnson Jr., needed professional guidance to shape the direction his life was taking. As a teenager, Nathan had worked as a bagging clerk at a grocery store, but he didn’t feel like the grocery business was a viable career option...
From Animal Lover to Professional Hands that Heal - A Client’s Journey to Becoming a Veterinarian
From the time she was a young girl, Dr. Alanna Reece knew she wanted to work with animals. Throughout her childhood in Perry, she enjoyed gymnastics, horseback riding, and taking care of her cats...
Making Dreams Come True
When Army Command Sergeant Major Iteago Felton was stationed at Fort Gordon in 2008, he began thinking about how his post-military life would look. Having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other physical ailments related to his service, he decided he wanted to become self-employed after serving 32 years in the Army...
Student Finds “Hope” and Success at Roosevelt Warm Springs
Student Anney Kim walked onto the campus of the Roosevelt Warm Springs (RWS) Comprehensive Center with no real sense of what to expect. She left with skills, confidence, lifelong friendships, and a job she loves...