At Victory Through Ability, we take immense pride in celebrating the remarkable achievements of our clients, and today, we are thrilled to share the inspiring success story of Ashlyn, who is currently working as a Recovery Support Worker.
A little bit about Ashlyn - she was born with cerebral palsy and spent the early years of her young adult life living in youth crisis centers and her car. Despite her determination to find meaningful employment, Ashlyn faced numerous barriers, compounded by a lack of support, both in general and within the disability community.
Despite these challenges Ashlyn worked to complete a Certificate IV in Youth Mental Health. After completing this qualification, the employment agency she was working with offered her a cleaning job; a position that was not aligned with her career aspirations or required workplace adjustments.
Ashlyn then began to struggle with her mental health after not being seen or supported to find meaningful employment. Her occupational therapist noticed this struggle and connected her with Sarlie, Victory Through Ability’s founder and an employment consultant.
Sarlie herself has overcome challenges throughout her career after becoming legally blind at the age of 26, and therefore understands the struggles of coming up against people's limiting assumptions in the workplace.
Sarlie worked with Ashlyn to understand her interests and career goals completing a targeted job search. And at the same time worked with her to develop her interview skills and confidence through mock interviews. Sarlie also empowered Ashlyn to communicate openly about her disabilities during interviews.
Sarlie and Ashlyn successfully found a role for her as a Recovery Support Worker. Sarlie worked with the employer to ensure her required accommodations were available which included an ergonomic chair and flexible work hours.
Beyond securing employment, Sarlie's guidance instilled in Ashlyn a renewed sense of hope. Ashlyn also felt empowered to advocate for herself in all areas of her life, nurturing her mental well-being and encouraging her to seek out additional support networks.
Ashlyn's journey serves as a testament to the transformative power of support and advocacy - that every individual deserves to work in a career they are passionate about and have equal opportunity in the workplace.
Victory Through Ability is proud to have played a part in her success and we are excited to highlight her this March, which is also Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. A month dedicated to breaking down social and physical barriers in society for people with Cerebral Palsy.
Victory Through Ability and remains committed to empowering individuals like Ashlyn to achieve their dreams. Join us in celebrating Ashlyn's journey and the potential of every individual to triumph over adversity.
If you or someone you know has a disability and is seeking support in achieving their career goals, please don't hesitate to reach out to us via the contact form on our website or through direct message.
