By: Ashley Maximus
In a February 2024 Dear Colleague Letter, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Commissioner Danté Allen prioritized elevating community expectations for competitive integrated employment by showcasing success stories of individuals with disabilities who receive services from RSA Programs. This is the fourth RSA Success Story in a series that will run through November 2024.
Coffee, like any food or beverage, can be a ritual. I grew up in a household where we started our day with a freshly brewed pot of coffee. Whether you drank it black like my grandmother, with cream and brown sugar like my aunt; or a little bit of coffee with a lot of cream and sugar like my mother; it was treasured. Being blind I loved that rich, earthy aroma.
Coffee also fueled my college years. I was able to attend college with support from the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). I had an amazing DVR Counselor who helped me pay for my tuition, books, and assistive technology. During my summer abroad in Italy, I fell in love with the culture of coffee and small cafés.
I graduated during the recession of 2008. After months of applying for jobs in the greater Seattle area, I finally accepted an offer from Starbucks. I [...]