While in high school, Jayla was referred to the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) for assistance with her transition from school to work. Jayla has Down syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes developmental delays. She was extremely shy and insecure, and she needed help with acquiring independent living and life skills and with…
Michael approached the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) several years ago because he was having trouble at his job, and he hoped DRS could help. Michael has been deaf since birth, a condition that resulted after his mother was infected with German measles during her pregnancy. As a child, Michael learned to communicate…
Joseph has Asperger’s syndrome, which caused him to have difficulty with focus, as well as with communication, organizational, socialization and interpersonal skills. According to DRS Rehabilitation Counselor Margie Cordle, after graduating in 2020, Joseph wanted to pursue a degree in business administration from Concord University. But that was during the height of the pandemic when…
While in school, Ismael was referred to the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) for transition services to help him prepare for life after graduation. Ismael has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). DRS Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Debbie Moore explained that Ismael had trouble concentrating and was easily distracted from staying on task, which could…
Ashley, a 2017 St. Albans High School graduate, has a learning disability and a speech impediment, according to DRS Senior Rehabilitation Counselor Veronica Bunch. Bunch helped coordinate work-based training to help Ashley to learn more about jobs in her chosen field and life skills training to help her to grow in her self-confidence. Ashley participated…
James knew he wanted to be a teacher, but his life had not been easy growing up in Squire. His grandparents raised him because his parents had substance use issues. He was a junior in high school when his grandmother passed away. Despite those difficulties, James pursued his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Concord…