FIU Career Coach Helps Students with Disabilities (05/04/2010)

When Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor Isabel Yepez needs a referral source for her customers, she knows she can call Darren Gregory. Isabel not only knows Darren as a fellow employment professional, but also as a former VR customer of hers. Darren was born with cerebral palsy and with help from Isabel and VR, is now as a career coach for persons with disabilities at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami.

Darren was referred to VR when he was an undergrad for assistance in finding successful employment in a career he would enjoy. VR provided Darren with a new wheelchair, vehicle modification, tuition and supplies for his undergrad and graduate schooling, and counseling and referral services. After working hard to complete his Bachelors and Masters in Social Work, Darren found a job as a career coach at FIU. With his educational background in social work and experience with his own disability, the position was ideal. This job is especially unique because it is part of the Johnson Scholarship Career Initiative, which provides scholarships and promotes career services specifically for students with disabilities. Darren says, “I have a disability myself so I thought it was a perfect fit…it’s been very rewarding.”

As a career coach for persons with disabilities, Darren is able to use his own experiences to counsel and relate to the students. In addition, he helps them write resumes and develop job readiness skills. His supervisor Imani Lowman says that Darren “is just excellent at what he does--very energetic, enthusiastic and always asks how [he] can help.”

Isabel is very supportive of Darren and all his accomplishments, and says, “I think it’s awesome that he’s taking all the help he obtained and turning it around to help others. Very remarkable.” As a counselor in Miami, Isabel call on Darren as a referral source for her customers that are students at FIU. Isabel has been a counselor at VR for almost six years and says “I do my job for people like Darren.”

Darren continues to enjoy his job, and is currently trying to modify the program using his personal experiences from when he was a student. Imani is glad to have him on the FIU team and says, “When you’re good at what you do, your disability is not an issue.”

Darren is grateful to VR for all their help, especially Isabel’s support and counseling, and says “I absolutely think [VR] a good program.”