Vocational Rehabilitation Service Offers Postgraduate Success
June 9, 2017
WAW PARTNERSHIP OPENS DOORS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES
By ADRS Annual Report
Each year, Vocational Rehabilitation Service offers education-related and specialized employment assistance to Alabamians with disabilities. Creative solutions at putting people with disabilities to work is really what VRS is all about, and another college graduate who was still having difficulty finding employment was Brandon Powell, who lives in Livingston.
SHREDDING THE COMPETITION
Though now retired, Brandon’s father was a well-known business owner in the small west Alabama town. Brandon had previously worked several different odd jobs throughout the town for his father. Brandon’s cerebral palsy means he has several physical limitations to overcome, but his strong will to work has never wavered.
“I want to make my brother and father proud,” he said.
Knowing that Brandon was a fixture in the community with numerous citizens wanting to see him succeed, ADRS worked to build a team around him to support him in getting a paper shredding business off the ground, said Business Relations Consultant Leslie Dawson.
“Rehabilitation Technology Specialist Tim Driskell and I visited a large paper shredding business to take notes,” Leslie said. “We knew there was nothing like that in Livingston, and with identity theft becoming such an issue, we thought this type of business would be great for both Brandon and Livingston.” Randy Phillips, Brandon’s VR counselor, agrees.
“I’ve been a counselor for a really long time,” he said. “And in that time, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered someone who possessed as strong a work ethic as Brandon. It was difficult finding Brandon work because most of the businesses, especially in the Livingston area, want you to be able to do several different things, and multitask, and that wasn’t playing to Brandon’s skill set. With Brandon running his own business, I’m excited, he’s excited, and it’s going to work out much better for everyone all around.”
The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services is a West Alabama Works partner due to new regional alignments brought about by (WIOA) legislation. As evidenced by Brandon Powell’s story, the will to work supersedes any difficulty. West Alabama Works is proud of Brandon’s accomplishments, as well as the efforts of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services team.
If you would like to hire hard working, committed individuals like Brandon, please contact Leslie Dawson, Business Relations Specialist, at 205-554-1359 or leslie.dawson@rehab.alabama.gov.