What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a question that many of us are asked from early childhood. All of us have hopes, dreams and aspirations for our lives. But in order to reach our goals, we all need support, and people with disabilities are no exception. Who needs to come to the table to ensure that people with disabilities are ready to achieve their educational and employment goals and fulfill their highest potential? We’re going to talk about that this evening. Post-education transition services are designed to help people with disabilities obtain competitive and integrated employment. Whether that involves work training, accommodations to make work and post-secondary education accessible, or other supports, our guests this evening all help people with disabilities live the lives to which they aspire.
Listen in tonight on KABF 88.3 FM, stream it live at kabf.org, or you can check it out on our website at https://disabilityrightsar.org/speak-up-arkansas/
Tonight’s guests include:
Mollie Hernandez is an advocate with DRA. Before coming to us in 2019, she has previously worked in education as an elementary school teacher, ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor, and a literacy interventionist. Her education, work history, and experiences living with a disability drive her passion for advocacy.
Jennifer Goodwin earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of Arkansas Little Rock Bowen School of Law. Prior to joining DRA in August of 2019, Jennifer was an Equal Justice Works Fellow working on Legal Aid of Arkansas’s Medical-Legal Partnership. She has also worked for U.S. District Judge Beth Deere and was an extern at Disability Rights Arkansas in 2014.
Jacob Grace is a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with Division of Services for the Blind, working with both Vocational Rehabilitation and Pre-Employment Transition Services consumers in high school and post-secondary training. Services are designed to assist individuals with visual impairments to explore career interests and options, alleviate barriers to employment, and help individuals obtain and maintain competitive employment and living independence.
Dale Turrentine is employed with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services as the Community Program Development Manager. In her position with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, she oversees, coordinates and monitor employment services for individuals with disabilities.
Reed Claiborne is the Director for the UA Little Rock Disability Resource Center and has been an Access Consultant since 2012. He earned his Bachelor’s in Speech Communication and his Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling both from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Reed has a passion for working with students with disabilities and has presented on learning disabilities at conferences and workshops.