A.R., a Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) Business student from Lynchburg, had her Student Internship
at McKee Foods. She did so well that she was hired by McKee to fill a 40 hour week temporary position this fall. Her hourly rate
of pay is $13.64. The position has now been extended until December. Her work so impressed her employers that, at three months
employment, they considered nominating her for Employee of the Year, but unfortunately her length of employment was too short to
meet criteria for the award. Her WWRC instructors were Ms. Polly Brown and Ms. Carol Critzer, her WWRC case managers were Mr.
Steve Jordan and Mr. Jason Axford, and her field counselor is Mr. Ron Simmons.
Despite the progressive nature of her disability, S.C. has continued to make strides in optimizing her independence. S.C.'s
case with the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) opened in 2002 when she was in high school. Throughout the last
seven years, she has come to Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) for various medical services and evaluation of
equipment needs. At the age of 17, she obtained her driver's license following training through Occupational Therapy.
DRS was able to fund adapted equipment in order for her to independently drive her car. At that time, S.C. lived with her
parents and assisted with bookkeeping for the family business. Although S.C. originally utilized a manual wheelchair, the
need for power mobility became apparent. She returned to WWRC and the necessary equipment was prescribed. As time passed,
the ability to drive a car was no longer feasible and a return to WWRC was necessary in order to provide a van prescription.
Although various changes to her wheelchair and to her newly purchased van were necessary in order to allow her to drive on her
own, S.C. was finally able to achieve this goal with the combined effort of all team members. During this process, S.C. took
a variety of college courses, primarily on line. Although S.C. requires a personal attendant, she now lives on her own in an
accessible apartment. S.C. works part time as a medical interpreter making $80 an hour. She is able to drive herself from
Harrisonburg to Charlottesville three days a week in order to fulfill her employment responsibilities. In addition to
interpreting, she continues to do some bookkeeping for her family business. Her case with DRS has recently closed as a
successful completion.
In late 1999, Ben Salatin (name used with permission) came to the Center for the Drafting program. Ben went through the
program with flying colors and had a successful completion in early 2001. When Ben left the Center he took advantage of the
Memorandum of Understanding that WWRC had at that time with Blue Ridge Community College and finished his AA degree in
Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) by way of his drafting program from WWRC transferring 24 credit hours to the Community College.
From there Ben went to Old Dominion University for a Bachelor's degree in Rehabilitation Engineering and is now almost
finished with his Master's degree in Human Engineering Research at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Rehabilitation
Science & Technology.
When Ben started his MS in the fall of 07, his project was to build and test a new smart controller for an electric powered
wheelchair. The idea was to build a computerized controller for a wheelchair that would allow feedback from sensors on the
wheelchair to modify the driving of the wheelchair to help keep the user safer. Something like traction and stability control
on a car.˙ (See attachments). Then, Ben started with the PerMMA project. It was decided that he would replicate his smart
controller for use on the bigger PerMMA project. One other thing he has been working on is a series of focus groups with
active power wheelchair users about their experiences driving outdoors and the different difficult driving situations they
find themselves in (See 'Outdoor Terrain Driving Strategies' file). This information will be used to help design better
driving programs for smart controller wheelchair and he also wants to develop a video tutorial on driving outdoors for new
power wheelchair users.
Ben is more interested in product development and he would like to find a job somewhere outside the US. The AT product
development company in Spain where he did his internship last summer is a possible option. He's also strongly considering
working with an international aid organization like Handicap International
http://www.handicap-international.us/
or Motivation
http://www.motivation.org.uk
J. M., a Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) Building Trades graduate of over 4 years, was hired by his Student
Internship Program (SIP) site, T&L Woodcrafters, immediately after graduation. He has remained with them ever since and
is considered a member of the T&L family. Recently, T&L employees contributed custom made furniture pieces to a charity
auction. J. had two pieces in the auction. The first went for over $225 and the second for over $300. Only the business
owners, who are known for mastery of the craft, had items selling higher. T&L has stated that they would like to have more
WWRC interns and employees like J. and hope to be able to do so when the economy turns around.
M.P. was referred to Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) to participate in the Life Skills Transition Program (LSTP).
He completed LSTP and transitioned into Food Service Training. He graduated from Food Service Training in September 2008
and was referred to the Center for Career and Business Development for job placement assistance. He accepted a position at
Dunkin Donuts and was closed rehabilitated in March 2009. While in the Life Skills Program Mr. Eugene Patrick was his
counselor. Ms. Ann Gardner was his Center Counselor when he went into Food Service Training and his Department of
Rehabilitative Services (DRS) sponsor was Ms. Renee Edwards from the Petersburg DRS office.
Five students in the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) Business & Information Technology area recently completed a
series of QuickBooks (QB) workshops set up through the Chamber of Commerce. After receiving short notice of the opportunity
to attend the QuickBooks training sessions, several staff jumped into action. Ms. Polly Brown identified two accounting
majors and 3 administrative assistants in the Business program who were ready to start QuickBooks. Ms. Wanda Ayres offered
to arrange for bag lunches, Ms. Brown made reservations and notified counselors, and the students made arrangements to
car-pool. The sessions were offered during lunch on four Thursdays from July 9, 2009 through July 30, 2009. Training was
held at the Waynesboro Library, sponsored by Bookkeeping & Management Systems, Inc., in Waynesboro, VA. Trainers are
certified QuickBooks advisers. The sessions covered were Bank Reconciliations, Tracking Credit Cards and Petty Cash, Paying
Bills in QB, and Receiving/Posting Payments in QB. The students represented WWRC well, and showed their enthusiasm for good
workforce skills.
C.S., a Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) Business Information Technology student, worked with WWRC staff members,
Ms. Sharon Russo, Physical Therapy Director, and Ms. Polly Brown, Business and Information Technology Instructor, to design
a brochure for the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission's Bicycle-Pedestrian Committee. This Committee has worked
to develop an area-wide bicycle plan and to promote bicycle and pedestrian safety. The brochure C.S. developed and printed
was distributed at a local community festival on Saturday, July 25, 2009, to promote the Committee's work and website. C.S.
did a wonderful job working with Ms. Russo to incorporate a large amount of text and graphical content to produce an engaging
and professional brochure. Ms. Russo commented that C.S. was very patient with the Publisher application and multiple
reviewers' feedback, which was new to her--she could easily have gotten frustrated, but persevered and offered design
suggestions along the way. The Commission's director loved the final product, which she will continue to use as a public
information and marketing resource.
Z.J. completed the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center's (WWRC) Business and Information Technology core curriculum and was
recommended for the Computer Support/A+ program. Z.J. achieved A+ certification in less than 6 months scoring 895 out of 900
on the exam. He went on to study for his Network+ certification. Mr. Mike Curry, his Computer Support Instructor reports
that Z.J. displayed excellent PC troubleshooting skills. While at WWRC, Z.J. participated in physical therapy and
psychological services. His center rehabilitation counselor was Ms. Cindy Bassett. Z.J. has been working at Computer World
in Richmond since April 2009 and was recently closed rehabilitated by Ms. Dee Graves, Rehabilitation Counselor.
M.S completed the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center's (WWRC) Business and Information Technology core curriculum and was
recommended for the administrative assistant training program. She completed the administrative assistant program in
September 2008. Ms. Polly Brown, Instructor, reports that M.S. did an excellent job in her internship at the American Cancer
Society. M.S. completed the Life Skills Transition Program and participated in driver's education and was successful in
obtaining her driver's license. She also participated in the Cottage Transition Program. Ms. Cindy Bassett was her WWRC
counselor and Ms. Shirley Ferguson is her Department of Rehabilitative Services sponsor. M. S. was recently hired full
time following an unpaid work experience as an office clerk in the Department of Vital Records in Richmond, VA.
Again, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center Health Occupations has again experienced success!!! Four June graduates of our
Nursing Assistant program tested on Friday, July 17, 2009, for their Certification with the Commonwealth of Virginia. We
are pleased to announce that all candidates were successful.
A.M. successfully completed the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center's (WWRC) Life Skills Transition Program in November 2008.
She then entered Vocational Training in the Material Handling program at WWRC. A.M. successfully completed two Student
Internship Programs with T.J. Maxx and Martin's grocery store. At both SIP sites A.M. received glowing reports which
highlighted her excellent work skills. A.M. recently completed her program at WWRC and has returned to her home community
where she is pursuing employment with a Martin's grocery store that is currently under construction.
K.B. passed her GED on June 19, 2009, after several months of hard work. K.B. was determined to get her GED before
graduating on Friday, June 26, 2009, from Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC). K.B. was an excellent student
and gave it her best. She worked with Ms. Cathy Crowder and Ms. Isabell Gold to achieve these goals. She is one of the
most determined students that we have worked with in the GED program. K.B. will be graduating from Health Occupations as
a CNA. K.S. is from Palmyra, VA in Fluvanna County. Ms. Cindy Bassett is her WWRC counselor and her Department of
Rehabilitative Services (DRS) counselor is Ms. Faye Creighton of the Charlottesville DRS office.
BK Graduates from High School
BK, who is 17 years old, came to Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) on June 4, 2009, to have maintenance performed
on his power wheelchair. He met with Center Director, Rick Sizemore, and talked about his recent graduation from High School.
He has received a number of services from WWRC over the years and continues to be very involved in activities of the
Wheelin Sportsmen of Virginia. BK reported that he has graduated from High School this week and plans to purse various
options in the future. His participation in High School was greatly enhanced by the services received at WWRC. BK was
also featured with numerous other WWRC clients in the Wheeling Sportsmen's latest You Tube Video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tfs8f-IEMu4
S.H. was in the Landscaping program with the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) External Training Options (ETO)
program. He made tremendous personal growth while in the program and corrected many negative work behaviors during his
time at the Center. S.H. was determined to complete his General Educational Development (GED) program and successfully
completed and received his GED diploma along with his certificate of completion from the Landscaping program on the day
he left. S.H. worked with Ms. Gwen Stover while at WWRC and returned to the Chesapeake area to his home counselor
Ms. Ruth McLeod.
D.B. a Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) drafting student recently completed his Student Internship at Home
Innovations in Fishersville. His work so impressed Home Innovations that he was offered a position with them. Though
at present this is a part-time position, they have verbally expressed a desire for him to go full time as soon as their
business justifies doing so. He studied drafting with Mr. Ed West and Mr. A. D. Strickland. His WWRC case manager is
Ms. Susan Goff and his field counselor is Mr. Anthony Kearney.
H.L., a student in the Web Design area of Business Information Technology, completed his student internship at the
U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School at Fort Eustis on May 15, 2009. He received excellent comments throughout his internship.
Among them were: 'H. fits right in with other employees. He is diligent and dedicated to the work.' 'The quality of work by
H. continues to impress all of his coworkers and supervisors alike.' 'He has really become part of the group with which he
is working.' And finally 'H. has done a fantastic job! Our only regret is not having a position in which to place him.'
J. Irene Hill, Deputy Director of the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School at Fort Eustis, was among those commenting.
H. both improved existing web pages and developed others. He was able to take the programs learned here and transfer the
concepts to programs used by the work site. He initialized the conceptual web page for the Quality Assurance Office and
presented the concept at a QA strategy meeting where it was quickly approved. He completed this page before completing
his SIP. H's instructor, Mr. Kerry Krause, stated that he was greatly pleased at H's ability to use and expand on his
training to such an extent. His Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center's case manager is Ms. Ann Gardner and his field
counselor is Ms. Cynthia Harp.
JS, a March graduate of the Nursing Assistant Program, has notified the Health Occupations Program instructors that she will
begin full time employment in a Long Term Care facility in her home area on Friday, May 29, 2009. JS completed her program
on March 23, 2009, graduated March 27, 2009, and tested for her Nurse Aide certification on May 8, 2009. JS came to
Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) from Buena Vista, Virginia and her counselor is Mr. Don Whittington. JS had
demonstrated exemplary leadership skills in the classroom and on campus. JS was active in Student Government and even met
with the Governor of the Commonwealth during one of his visits to our campus. Although JS is missed by her classmates and
her instructors, we are all extremely happy to celebrate her achievements.
T.J. arrived at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) certain that he wanted to work in Food Service. His first
attempt in the Food Service assessment was not successful due to immature work readiness behaviors, and it soon became
apparent that the full Life Skills Transition Program may be the best choice in preparing T.J. for work and independence.
When this was presented to him, he determined that he would like to complete the Life Skills Transition Program and went
on to do very well. Following Life Skills, T.J. was once again enrolled in the trial Food Service program. He demonstrated
significant improvement in work readiness skills and was able to obtain full enrollment as a Kitchen Assistant. His
internships were both very successful. On April 14, 2009, we learned that T.J. has been employed full time at Ruby Tuesday
as a food prep assistant. He is doing very well and enjoys his work. T.J. requested that his counselor Ms. Susan Goff,
and his instructors, Ms. Sue Britt and Ms. Heidi Smoot be made aware of his success. T.J's FRS Counselor, Ms. Lisa Webb and
his family have all indicated that they are very proud of his accomplishments.
