VR Program Assists West Valley Woman in Creating Pet Sitting Business

The DES Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program provides a variety of services to individuals with disabilities, with the ultimate goal  to prepare them to enter into or retain employment. The employment options VR presents also include self-employment opportunities, which was of particular interest to the ambitions of VR client, Tonya Cole.

Tonya has severe anxiety, and was receiving assistance from Copa Health, an organization that provides assistance to individuals with developmental, physical and behavioral health challenges. When she expressed a desire to return to the workforce, she was referred to the DES VR program.

Tonya was first connected to the VR program in June 2019, where Heather Sweeney became her counselor and helped her find a job as a custodian. In cases where finding employment was the ultimate goal, Heather would check in on Tonya once or twice a month, but Tonya  expressed interest in a larger endeavor of starting her own business.

“I sought job help at first, but then Heather told me about this other program where I could start my own business and be able to work, instead of having to deal with another job that I might  lose because of my mental health,” said Tonya.

Tonya has always had a love for animals, and wanted to do something where she worked with them closely.  She initially desired to work with horses, but she didn’t have the land capacity needed to do so, so she shifted her focus on a pet sitting and dog walking business.

VR clients who seek to become self-employed are required  to create a business plan, so Heather referred Tonya to Odyssey Services Corp., to help her build one, at no cost to her.

“She was very well prepared,” Heather said of Tonya. “Whenever we asked her to do research on her own she would come back with lengthy research done, so she was always on top of things.”

Throughout the process, Heather regularly connected with Tonya to provide her with coaching and reassurances about her exciting business endeavor.

“Part of my job was to build that self-confidence up and remind her that she can do it, and remind her that we’re taking it step-by-step,” said Heather.

After Tonya worked through her business plan, she presented it to VR and it was approved. She then received VR funding to be utilized towards software and advertising. Through VR assistance, Tonya’s Peoria-based Your Pets Matter Too was officially created. As a result, Tonya’s case with VR was successfully closed in January 2021.

“It’s going really well,” said Tonya. “I have quite a few clients and I’m busy! It was the perfect business for me. I love dogs and I love cats, so it was such a good fit.I couldn’t have done it without [VR].”

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