New BEP director says future is bright

For 28 years, Lori Brady has witnessed Alabama’s Business Enterprise Program (BEP) grow to assist 100 blind vendors/small business owners with total gross sales of more than $25 million. As Brady settles into her new role as BEP director, she says she sees potential for much more. “What sets BEP apart from other programs,” she said, “is that we train and license

Varnado takes over as chair of Board of Rehabilitation Services

Jimmie Varnado presided over his first meeting as Alabama Board of Rehabilitation Services chairman April 17. “I’ve been a part of this board for a long time,” said Varnado, who represents congressional district 2. “Over that time, it’s given me great pleasure to give back and to support and represent both business and the disability

Summit brings together partners in care

More than 200 attendees came to Prattville’s Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill Conference Center for the 5th annual Family Voices Partners In Care Summit, April 13-15. The yearly family/professional development workshop works to strengthen networks between families and care professionals and spotlights current challenges to developing quality systems of care for children and youth with special health

Students explore career options at Birmingham-area Transition Career Fair

Some 300 students with disabilities, parents, and educators attended today’s Teen Transition Career Fair held at Boutwell Auditorium in downtown Birmingham. Students and educators from Bessemer City, Birmingham, Fairfield, Homewood, Hoover, Jefferson County, Midfield, Mountain Brook, Tarrant, and Vestavia Hills school systems participated in the half-day event, which featured more than 75 exhibitors sharing information

North Alabama transition event prepares students for work world

More than 150 high school students from Limestone and Morgan counties recently participated in Transition Mentoring Day on the campus of Calhoun Community College in Tanner. The half-day event – sponsored by VRS and the North Alabama Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities – featured sessions on disability awareness, job interviewing skills, employment readiness,

Employment training conference encourages teens to outwit, outwork, outlast

The Covington County Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities (CCCEPD) sponsored a one-day employment training conference for area youth, held April 8 in Andalusia. The theme of the 9th annual conference was Survivor: The Employment Edition. The event connected more than 150 high school students with disabilities from 10 area schools to several different

ADRS welcomes newest staff to ‘the family’

Family. It’s a major component of our department’s culture, and the “Rehab Family” is a concept that is familiar to all ADRS staff – except, perhaps, our newest employees. Yesterday, ADRS Commissioner Cary Boswell, along with members of the Executive Leadership Team and shared services staff, welcomed the department’s newest staff into the Rehab Family at