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[Michael_VYskocil]

“You’ll never be able to graduate.” “You’re not smart enough to go to college.”“You’l l never be able to f ind a job.”

Joanna McVicker heard such comments from a variety of people for much of her young life. The Middletown woman’s battle began 20 years ago with a brain injury she sustained after being kicked in the head by a horse at age 4. It was unclear at first how this accident would affect her life, but her classroom experience slowly revealed the extent of the damage. “They started noticing it when I was in school, and I had trouble concentrating, learning and understanding,” McVicker recalls.

A battery of exams and testing confirmed what she and her family feared — her cognitive

functions and ability to retain and process information had indeed been impaired.

Growing up, McVicker struggled to perform simple tasks, such as remembering where she placed objects in her home. These challenges also spilled over to her young adulthood, impacting her dreams of furthering her education and securing a good job.

That’s where Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley (GIMV) entered McVicker’s life.

The nonprofit Frederick County organization conducts a unique Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) program devoted specifically to helping individuals with head trauma learn strategies to cope in their personal and professional lives. The program has been in place there for two years.

Joanna McVicker oVercaMe a brain inJury to build an independent, productiVe life with the help of a unique Goodwill rehabilitation proGraM

Mind Over Matters

june _july 2012 / 61

“For the First time, i Feel empowered in my liFe. i enjoy sharing what i’ve learned at goodwill with other people.” /joanna_mcvicker

After numerous failed attempts to secure meaningful employment, in August 2010, McVicker received a GIMV referral. Her Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) counselor felt she would benefit most from a course that provided both cognitive and vocational training skills, and the ABI program was a natural fit. The instructor, Patie Elsberry, like her pupils also has a brain injury. “She understood my issues because she lives with the same things I was struggling with,” McVicker acknowledges.

“You learn memory skills. You do word scrambles where you have to challenge your brain. There are lots of things you have to read about how to improve your memory. We had tons of journaling that we had to do every day,” McVicker recounts of her time in the ABI class. “The program teaches us how to be independent, and through that, we received job training skills workshops.”

But the real test remained – would she be successful at finding employment?

McVicker ultimately landed a job with the Tourism Council of Frederick County’s Visitor Center. Robyn Hildebrand, the center’s manager, says McVicker was the first person the organization hired from Goodwill’s programs.

However, Goodwill was no stranger to Hildebrand. “Initially, Goodwill was doing our lead fulfillment mailings offsite, at their Church Street facility. This was arranged by Tom Buttner, business consultant with Monocacy Valley Goodwill. After a time, Tom approached us with the idea of placing a candidate from the ABI program to do the mailings on site at the new Visitor Center. Joanna was that candidate,” she explains.

McVicker admits to being hesitant to accept the offer: “I was a little nervous at first. I was afraid I’d lose a job again.” But thanks to her ABI training and Hildebrand’s help, McVicker says she has the confidence and ability to fulfill the duties of her position, which include organizing mailings, restocking brochures, preparing welcome bags for tour groups and manning the center’s front desk where she fields questions from visitors.

“Everyone is very happy to have Joanna as a staff member. In addition to her sweet personality, she is an asset with skills that have been helpful beyond her responsibility for the lead fulfillment mailings,” Hildebrand says.

“For the first time, I feel empowered in my life,” McVicker exclaims. “I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned at Goodwill with other people.”

In addition to those personal achievements, her efforts, work ethic and determination to succeed have also earned a national award. In late June,

McVicker will travel to Florida to receive the 2012 Kenneth Shaw Graduate of the Year award from Goodwill Industries

International. The honor recognizes individuals who have successfully completed a Goodwill career program and attained subsequent employment by a non-Goodwill employer in their local communities.

“Disabilities like Joanna’s are often invisible to the public,” remarks Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “She proves to others with similar disabilities that there are ways to be successful in the workplace.”

McVicker says that the help she received through Goodwill has inspired her to return to college to study gerontology with the goal of one day working with the elderly.

“I would tell anyone not to give up and to keep going after their dream,” she says.

To learn more about goodwill

industries of monocacy Valley and

the acquired Brain injury (aBi)

program, visit www.gimv.org/

programs_Brain.html.

Goodwill industries of

MonocacY ValleY

400 e. church St., Frederick

301-662-0622

www.gimv.org

images courTesy of goodwill indusTries of monocacy Valley