Client with Disabilities Utilizes Assistance To Overcome Barriers to Pursue her Dream Career

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Throughout the month, DES is sharing stories of individuals with disabilities who have utilized Arizona’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program to succeed in the workforce.

When Marissa was in high school, she participated in Arizona’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Transition School to Work program to help her prepare for success in the workforce, despite challenges from hearing loss and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). After graduation, 18-year-old Marissa returned to VR for assistance with making her dream of a career in the medical field a reality.  

“She wrote a paper to explain why she wanted to pursue her dream job of becoming a family medicine physician,” explained her VR counselor Deb Hoover. In the paper, Marissa detailed her love of biological science and her eagerness to heal families.

Through VR, Marissa had a psychoeducational evaluation completed determining which accommodations would best support her as she continued in higher education, including the purchase of hearing aids.

Deb expressed her appreciation of Marissa’s intelligence and passion to heal, educate and advocate for others who have disabilities. “She has participated in the Special Olympics, expanded education at her medical school on intellectual and developmental disabilities, and helped expand the definitions of work requirements to be more inclusive for individuals with various disabilities,” said Deb. “I felt honored getting to know her and seeing all of her positive changes over the years.”

Marissa completed clinical hours serving disadvantaged youth in rural communities and on Indian reservations. She is currently completing her residency at a hospital near Boston and then plans to return to Arizona to seek employment as a pediatrician. “Marissa has been very motivated throughout the VR process to do what was necessary to obtain her vocational goal while remaining humble and thankful for the opportunities she has been given,” said Deb.

To learn more about the DES VR program, visit des.az.gov/vr.