Dozens of Students with Disabilities Overcome Challenges to Achieve Success
Hurricane Katrina Survivor Spotlighted in Today’s TRC Graduation
SMYRNA , Tenn.– More than 60 young men and women with significant disabilities walked or rolled their wheelchairs across the stage this morning during a graduation ceremony at the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center. The students, whose disabilities include traumatic brain injury, mental retardation and blindness, overcame tremendous barriers to get here today. One student even overcame the challenges and turmoil of Hurricane Katrina.
Byron Pleasant and his family were airlifted to Middle Tennessee five years ago. They never returned to New Orleans. After attending high school in Rutherford County, Byron was accepted to the Food Service and Hospitality Training program at the TRC. He was hired by an upscale area restaurant in March and eventually hopes to return to New Orleans.
Byron credits his classmates at the TRC and the people who believed in him with his success. “Without God, none of this would be possible,” said Byron. “Going to work and being around good people is a blessing.”
In addition to the Food Service, the 68 new graduates participated in other diverse training programs, including Building Maintenance, Business Education Training, Custodial and Warehouse Training. Students are referred to the TRC by Vocational Rehabilitation counselors in their home counties.
Former TRC graduate and current chairwoman of the State Rehabilitation Council Kim Williams gave the keynote speech. The Hamilton County resident told the students that Vocational Rehabilitation and the TRC have given them the tools to be successful and they have to go into the world and use them.
“You have an obligation to be successful,” she urged the crowded gymnasium. “Success is to be independent, not dependent; to be employed and not unemployed; to be taxpayers and not tax consumers.”
The Tennessee Rehabilitation Center is a state-operated comprehensive rehabilitation facility. It is one of only eight such centers in the nation. Services are provided on campus, and the majority of clients live on-site while receiving services. The length of programs offered at TRC varies, depending upon the individual client’s interest, abilities and needs. TRC is part of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
TRC serves more than 1,000 Tennesseans each year. Since opening its doors in 1977, TRC has served more than 30,000 individuals. For more information about TRC, the Division of Rehabilitation Services and the Tennessee Department of Human Services, visit: http://state.tn.us/humanserv/rehab/trc.html
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First Name |
Last Name |
City |
County |
Program Area |
|
Tyler |
Vahl |
Camden |
Benton |
Building Maintenance |
|
Corey |
Myers |
Cleveland |
Bradley |
OT/PT |
|
Bryce |
Heintzman |
Joelton |
Cheatham |
JOBS |
|
Frank |
Lopez |
Henderson |
Chester |
Auto/Detail |
|
Edward |
Kulik |
Tullahoma |
Coffee |
Building Maintenance |
|
Jessica |
Riddle |
Tullahoma |
Coffee |
Food Service |
|
Justin |
Philpot |
Crossville |
Cumberland |
Auto/Detail |
|
Alex |
LaChapelle |
Monterey |
Cumberland |
JOBS |
|
Olivia |
Decaria |
Nashville |
Davidson |
Auto/Detail |
|
Jordan |
Dilg |
Nashville |
Davidson |
Building Maintenance |
|
Kenneth |
Foster |
Madison |
Davidson |
Food Service |
|
Turquoia |
Owens |
Nashville |
Davidson |
Food Service |
|
Cameron |
Durham |
Nashville |
Davidson |
Warehouse |
|
Cassandra |
Brown |
Nashville |
Davidson |
JOBS |
|
Joe |
Eagar |
Nashville |
Davidson |
JOBS |
|
Latrona |
McDaniel |
Nashville |
Davidson |
JOBS |
|
Steven |
Donegan |
Antioch |
Davidson |
TBI |
|
Byron |
Brandon |
Antioch |
Davidson |
TLS |
|
Johnathan |
Wright |
Smithville |
DeKalb |
Warehouse |
|
Rhonda |
Freeman |
Newbern |
Dyer |
Commercial Cleaning |
|
Jeremy |
Tomerlin |
Goodspring |
Giles |
JOBS |
|
Jesse |
Malec |
Thorn Hill |
Grainger |
Food Service |
|
Haikeem |
Ragsdale |
Chattanooga |
Hamilton |
Auto/Detail |
|
Mary |
Barnes |
Toone |
Hardeman |
Business Education |
|
Jessica |
West |
White Pine |
Jefferson |
JOBS |
|
Karlie |
Herbst |
Knoxville |
Knox |
Business Education |
|
Brandon |
Hill |
Knoxville |
Knox |
Food Service |
|
Kelly |
Wells |
Knoxville |
Knox |
JOBS |
|
Cameron |
Wiseman |
Ripley |
Lauderdale |
Building Maintenance |
|
Matthew |
Urban |
Fayetteville |
Lincoln |
OT/PT |
|
Maronica |
Cawthon |
Jackson |
Madison |
JOBS |
|
Cassie |
Miller |
Columbia |
Maury |
TBI |
|
John |
Sabin |
Columbia |
Maury |
TBI |
|
Justin |
Solomon |
Columbia |
Maury |
JOBS |
|
Nick |
Howell |
Athens |
McMinn |
Auto/Detail |
|
Stephanie |
Lusia |
Athens |
McMinn |
JOBS |
|
Carlos |
Lewis |
Clarksville |
Montgomery |
JOBS |
|
Loren |
Sturgis |
Clarksville |
Montgomery |
JOBS |
|
Shawn |
Scruggs |
Clarksville |
Montgomery |
OT/PT PCA |
|
Robert |
Cashman |
Dayton |
Rhea |
Building Maintenance |
|
Byron |
Pleasant |
Murfreesboro |
Rutherford |
Food Service |
|
Jamar |
Burton |
LaVergne |
Rutherford |
Warehouse |
|
Michael |
Glidwell |
Murfreesboro |
Rutherford |
Warehouse |
|
Joseph |
Akinsete |
Smyrna |
Rutherford |
TLS |
|
James |
Johnson |
Murfreesboro |
Rutherford |
TLS |
|
Emily |
Waldron |
Smyrna |
Rutherford |
TLS |
|
Jazzlynn |
Bradley |
Murfreesboro |
Rutherford |
VIS |
|
Kim |
Montgomery |
Smyrna |
Rutherford |
VIS |
|
Mary |
Mize |
Seymour |
Sevier |
OT/PT |
|
Jeremiah |
Hampton |
Sevierville |
Sevier |
JOBS |
|
John |
Farley |
Memphis |
Shelby |
Warehouse |
|
Bryce |
Donald |
Cordova |
Shelby |
JOBS |
|
Jimmiesha |
Hooks |
Memphis |
Shelby |
JOBS |
|
Tawany |
Bell |
Memphis |
Shelby |
TLS |
|
Martez |
Baker |
Memphis |
Shelby |
VIS |
|
Derrick |
Woods |
Gallatin |
Sumner |
Business Education |
|
Shawn |
Grogan |
Cottontown |
Sumner |
Commercial Cleaning |
|
Stephanie |
Newbill |
Hendersonville |
Sumner |
Commercial Cleaning |
|
Brianna |
Brandt |
Portland |
Sumner |
JOBS |
|
Aaron |
Roberts |
Covington |
Tipton |
JOBS |
|
Amir |
Bengali |
Franklin |
Williamson |
Auto/Detail |
|
Heather |
Bynum |
Spring Hill |
Williamson |
Warehouse |
|
David "Ritt" |
Chitwood |
Nolensville |
Williamson |
TBI |
|
Patrick |
Gollihue |
Brentwood |
Williamson |
TLS |
|
Michael |
Harris |
Lebanon |
Wilson |
Commercial Cleaning |
|
Kayla |
Rogers |
Lebanon |
Wilson |
Commercial Cleaning |
|
Faith |
Underwood |
Mt. Juliet |
Wilson |
JOBS |
|
Cynthia |
Miller |
Lebanon |
Wilson |
TBI |
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