After graduating from UT with a degree in microbiology and receiving her Certified Nurse Assistant license, Sarah seemed to be well on her way to her dream job. When she started applying, however, she found some challenges.
“It was kind of a struggle because people would look at me with my disability and say, ‘Oh well she’s not capable of doing this.’” Sarah said. “So I was facing a lot of barriers.”
Although Sarah was qualified for the positions she applied for, potential employers could see that she had a distinct gait from a previous leg amputation in addition to being legally blind. They weren’t convinced she could accomplish the physical demands of the job.
Luckily, Sarah’s persistence paid off and after being referred to Goodwill through Vocational Rehabilitation, she received help with interview skills, resume building, and job leads. Now Sarah is working in a long term care facility; they are impressed with her work ethic and she loves it too!
“They were willing to give me a chance when no one else would…[and] made sure I had what I needed to succeed!” Congratulations Sarah.