My journey with DEED's vocational rehabilitation (VR) services began when I first moved to Minneapolis in 2008. At State Services for the Blind (SSB), for the first time in my life, people from different backgrounds, colors, faiths and languages came together and sat at the same table to talk about my future. 

As a blind individual, as a new American, and as someone who had not yet started to speak English, that moment helped me believe that I would become somebody, and SSB became that avenue for me — it opened the door to the life I have today and continue to build on.

I was a client of SSB and Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) for nearly ten years. During that time, I worked hard to build my independence and education. I attended Blind Incorporated to develop my independent living skills. I then enrolled in ESL classes to learn English as a second language and later obtained my GED. After that, I continued my education at Minneapolis College and eventually at the University of Minnesota.

Through these opportunities, I was able to enter the workforce. Since then, I have worked full-time and gained valuable experience serving my community. I served with AmeriCorps as a Promise Fellow within Minneapolis Public Schools, worked with the United States Census Bureau during the 2020 Census as a field enumerator, and spent nearly two years working with Minneapolis Public Schools as a special education assistant. 

Today, I am a DEED employee, working as a Rehabilitation Representative with VRS in South Minneapolis. While working, I am also pursuing my master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling through the George Washington University, and I am currently in my second semester. I'm continuing my education because I want to understand how to better support people with disabilities and how to make the process easier so they can access the same opportunities that helped me succeed.

As a former VRS client, I experienced firsthand how important vocational rehabilitation services are. Those services helped guide me toward education, employment and independence. Because of that experience, I want to be on the other side of the table supporting members of my community. In my career, my goal is to help individuals with disabilities recognize their strengths, and help support them to pursue their job goals and improve their lives through the opportunities that exist in our communities and in this country.

National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day, observed annually on March 22, is a day to honor the dedication and contributions of rehabilitation counselors who help individuals with disabilities achieve personal, social, psychological and vocational goals. I'm proud to be part of this!

VRS helps job seekers prepare for, find and keep a job, and live as independently as possible. VRS's mission is to empower Minnesotans with disabilities to achieve their goals for employment, independent living and community integration. For more information on VRS services, visit the VRS website or call your local office.