Can Authentic Stories in the Media Redefine Disability and Drive Social Change?
Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide, or 16 percent of the global population, experience significant disability, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In the United States, one in four adults, or over 70 million people, report having a disability. 3 Yet, despite these numbers, characters with disabilities remain widely underrepresented in the media .9 Recent […]
More than Employment
Listen to this blog post: by Winston Clements Jacqueline started working at Bobby Dodd Institute (BDI) nine years ago, and since then, she has been a late-night phone operator. She has utilized her position as a stepping stone for her confidence and belonging. Her path to BDI was shaped by resilience and a moment of […]
The Right Support Makes All the Difference
Listen to this blog post: by Winston Clements When I spoke with Jamie, I could hear the pride in her voice as she described her work. For the past five years, she has served as a mail clerk in the IRS mailroom in Nashville, which she affectionately calls a “mini post office.” The role keeps […]
How the Right Job Can Help You Reach Your Potential
Listen to this blog post: by Winston Clements Sebastian Jones never imagined he would build a career as a 911 dispatcher, yet today it is hard to picture him anywhere else. For nearly eight years, he has been the steady voice on the other end of late-night calls at Fort Benning, guiding people through emergencies […]
Bertha’s Story
Listen to this blog post: It all started with a short announcement on the local radio station and a joke over a cup of coffee. This led to a 20-year career and continuing growth. She’s not just a supervisor—she’s a mentor and a friend. This is Bertha’s story. Twenty years and counting Bertha Holtzclaw’s career […]
Kaleb’s Story
Listen to this blog post: He is fascinated by numbers, and data is his passion. He is an artist and a huge dog lover. This is Kaleb. He’s in his twenties and one of the newest employees at Bobby Dodd Institute’s Contact Center. Close to graduation, like many young people his age, Kaleb wasn’t sure […]
When You Find the Right Job
By Winston Clements Listen to this blog post: When I interviewed Mary Williams, I was struck by her strength, humility, and deep sense of purpose. Her path was not easy. Overnight, her career came to a halt. Years earlier, while serving as an assistant registrar at the University of Georgia, she suffered a serious back […]
Working Effectively from Home is Not Rocket Science. Here’s How to Maximize Your Workhours
Listen to this blog post: When most people used to think about a workday, they’d think about getting up early, driving to an office, working eight hours, and coming home. But times have changed. For many people, this is not what a typical workday looks like anymore. More and more people are working from home […]
2024 Luminary Shamicka Demery – Growing by Uplifting Others
Shamicka Demery found her way to the Bobby Dodd Institute after completing a 15-month tour in Iraq. A U.S. Army veteran, Shamicka was a strong fit for BDI’s Contact Center, which in its early days employed only veterans transitioning into civilian jobs. She recalls feeling immediately at home among her coworkers, all of whom could […]
Thriving at Work
Enter the National Detector Dog Training Center (NDDTC) and you will glimpse your own reflection in the sparkling clean hallway floor. Not a single speck of dust can be found on the polished furniture. Everything is organized and comfortably placed in its specified spot. One of the people responsible for maintaining the squeaky-clean facility is […]