Eric’s enthusiasm for helping others is evident from the very first moment you speak with him. He’s passionate about contributing to his community and dreams of finding a job that will allow him to truly thrive.
Eric is one of over 100 young people with disabilities who have graduated from Bobby Dodd Institute’s (BDI) Getting Ready for Opportunities in Work (GROW) program. Primarily funded by the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), GROW exposes high school students ages 14 to 22 to the workforce and teaches them essential skills like managing money, navigating transportation, and preparing for job interviews. Through a hands-on approach, the students gain real-world experience and develop essential job skills. Eric and his fellow students also learn about potential educational opportunities after high school graduation.
Equipped with marketable skills, Eric is now working as a server at a restaurant in downtown Alpharetta three days a week and volunteers at the information desk at the Alpharetta YMCA on Friday mornings. He has also been exploring job opportunities with the Lionheart WORKS program in Alpharetta.
Eric is a young man with many talents. He was recently invited to sing in a choral performance at Carnegie Hall and keeps busy outside of work singing in the Chancel Choir at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church. He also serves as a church deacon.
Monique Bell, GROW program manager, noticed Eric’s potential right away. “Eric was such a joy to work with,” she says.
Eric was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3 and a half. His mother, Jeanette, noticed that “something was just different about him.” She says, “…but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.” Eric received a sufficient amount of continuous support early on, which helped him become an independent adult.
Through BDI’s services, Eric gained new perspectives on life and work. “I have learned a lot about why it’s important to have a job, and why making money is important when you’re young, and on how to be independent,” he says. The program helped him understand what it takes to be independent and the benefits that follow when someone gets there.
Eric is a phenomenal example of the lasting impact of the program and why caregivers of children with disabilities should seek early help for them. As Jeanette explains, “When we support our children according to their individual profile, giving them the tools that they need to succeed, then they can rise to meet those expectations.”
A disability can make entering the workforce and sustaining a job challenging. But programs like GROW can change the narrative for Eric and many young individuals like him. By receiving training, exploring their strengths, shifting their attitudes about their disabilities and abilities to more positive ones, and gaining new perspectives on employment, they can feel more empowered and able to succeed.
Author: Julia Bessey, Intern, Marketing
