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.

We spoke with some of our counselors and managers at State Services for the Blind (SSB), and here's what they said about what gives them the greatest satisfaction in their work and inspires them daily. They also passed along some advice for those considering work in this field.

Dave Smith is an employment specialist on our workforce team, cultivating relationships with employers and working alongside customers to find the right job and sort out any needed job accommodations. Smith succinctly sums up the best part of the job for him, "I get to see a person's life change and their confidence rise when they become employed."

Jason Dornbusch, a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor in central Minnesota, recalls a recent success story that meant a lot to him. A customer in Sartell landed a job while mourning the death of a spouse, overcoming the challenges of a recent move and succeeding in learning new technologies.

Counselor Anna Nelson, who works in Southwest Minnesota, echoes that pride in the resiliency of our customers: "It is amazing to see someone advance so much – from a place of sorrow and fear to a place of confidence and realization that they can do things. They can contribute and work. They can live their lives, just in a different way."

"Our counselors work to create opportunities and find creative solutions to the barriers customers face," says Sheila Koenig, who manages a team working with students and young adults in our vocational rehabilitation program. When asked which qualities successful counselors share, Koenig said, "The ability to build rapport and relationships, creative thinking, and problem-solving."

Lindsay Escalera, who works with many customers who are DeafBlind, stresses the value of building relationships: "I remember making a referral to a community partner who does customized employment and successfully finding a customized job for a customer who thought they weren't employable. Being able to collaborate with community partners is one of my favorite parts of the job. Building relationships and helping the customer reach their employment goals makes it all worth it!

Jon Benson, who, as the Deputy Director for Program Services at SSB oversees our vocational rehabilitation program, echoes the same sentiment, "What makes me most proud of our counselors is that they never give up."

Benson remembers his own work as a counselor, and why he stayed in the field, "You have a lot of autonomy and creativity in helping people on their vocational path."

Benson also recalls the support he got from colleagues when he started out as a counselor: "I was surrounded by people who were willing and ready to help me out."

Indeed, Koenig highlights the team approach that is integral to SSB's vocational rehabilitation program, "We bring together people with an array of specialties to brainstorm and problem-solve in order to help our customers move forward on their employment journey."

More information about SSB's services can be found on the SSB website.