'Ability For Hire' News

AJ applied for vocational rehabilitation services when he was in high school.  He had no paid work experience at the time.  AJ was eligible for services because of the functional limitations posed by paralysis due to Transverse Myelitis.  Transverse Myelitis is a rare inflammatory disease causing injury to the spinal cord with varying degrees of weakness, sensory alterations and autonomic dysfunction.  For AJ, this impacts his ability to walk and stand. 

Samantha attended high school in North Dakota and was on an Individualized Education Plan. After graduation, she moved to South Dakota to be closer to her mom and other relatives.

Samantha has intellectual disabilities, which impact interpersonal and communication skills as well as self-care, self-direction and work tolerance. Her work experience during high school was very limited, and when she applied for services through the Division of Rehabilitation Services and was found eligible, she had less than one month’s work experience. 

This young man grew up on the family farm, where he learned about farming and how to fix old things. This is where he discovered he liked to work with his hands! 

Lee attended Florence High School and was on an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) because of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other learning disabilities. The IEP also addressed areas of self-direction, interpersonal skills and communication. 

Growing up on the farm, Lee’s interests fell in the areas of electrical work, mechanics and truck driving. Lee participated in the Project Skills program, working at Hurkes Implement in Watertown during high school. This opportunity provided him with a variety of work experiences.  

Austin sought vocational rehabilitation (VR) services after graduating from West Central High School in 2012. He lives in rural Hartford, S.D., with his parents and his younger brother.  Austin suffered an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) when he was 11. An AVM is an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins and is typically congenital (present at birth). Austin’s AVM affects his gait and use of his right side.  Fortunately for Austin, his speech was not impaired following his AVM, but he did have mobility issues on his right side and required physical therapy to increase his overall mobility until he reached maximum medical improvement.