Jim
Jim was a Low Vision Therapist with the V.A.’s Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center. On November 12th, 2016 Jim and Sue embarked on a new adventure; moving back to Maine. Sue was able to keep her position with the V.A., working full time remote from our new house in Franklin, Maine. Jim resigned from his position with SBRC, to take on a new role as house husband and small scale organic farmer on our 19 acres in Maine.
Sue
A Career in Vision Rehabilitation
Over a twenty-two year career in vision rehabilitation Sue served as a certified vision rehabilitation therapist, a certified low vision therapist, and an assistive technology instructor. Her last five years in the field were at the Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center, SBRC, at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Birmingham, Alabama. As the subject matter expert of the computer training section she coordinated and oversaw all assistive technology training provided to blind veterans at the SBRC.
A New Career
In 2007 Sue left the field of vision rehabilitation to take a position as a management analyst in a Section 508 Office, first within the Veterans Health Administration and later with the VA Section 508 Office in the VA Office of Information & Technology, VA OI&T. As part of a Section 508 Office Sue helped ensure technology used by VA is accessible to employees and members of the public who have disabilities.
A New Opportunity
Last year, after working on the OI&T Employee Engagement Task Force for several months, Sue moved into the newly formed OI&T Office of Organization Development and Engagement. ”It’s like coming home,” says Sue whose new job duties include writing, editorial review, public speaking, marketing, and public relations.