When Kevin Glenn went to his local Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) office in 2011, his life was in shambles, both personally and professionally.
He struggled to hold down jobs and have healthy relationships. For a few years, he didn’t have stable housing and was sleeping on friends’ couches or in a van.
“I was at rock bottom. I didn’t know what to do.” Said Kevin, who lives in the small eastern Oregon town of Enterprise.
He had no idea he was living with mental health conditions that were affecting his ability to work and have healthy relationships. The Oregon VR program helped him get a diagnosis, which put him on the path toward stability.
Over a decade later, at age 50, he is a manager for a large, international company.
“This job is the best fit I could ever have imagined.” He said, “I directly attribute my success to going through the VR program.”
THE DIAGNOSES THAT CHANGED KEVIN’S LIFE
Kevin learned about VR through the local employment office, when he saw an advertisement that said services were available for anyone with a disability that caused barriers to employment.
He lives with epilepsy, and that diagnosis prevented him from getting a job that required a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). He came to his appointment with VR counselor Katy Schultz with the rejection letter in hand.
“I went into the office, and I was so scared to ask for anything.” He said, “I had a hard time accepting help. I didn’t think I was worth it.
“[Katy] made me feel so comfortable. She built me up. She made me feel supercharged, and she made me believe that she believed in me and that she would advocate for me.”
Schultz listened to his story and suspected there was more to his diagnosis than epilepsy. She suggested a psychological evaluation. VR was able to pay for the appointment.
He learned he had social anxiety disorder and bipolar type II disorder, and that medication could help stabilize his mood. He was prescribed medication and started seeing a counselor who helped him learn tools to manage his anger. Today, anger no longer rules him.
“Occasionally I'll get angry, but that is ok.” He said, “There isn't anything wrong with being mad. It's the response and cascading stories attached to the anger that were the issue.”
KEVIN LANDS HIS DREAM JOB
Kevin set a goal to become an appliance technician, which would provide more job opportunities and higher pay. VR paid for his tools and other gear, as well as an online appliance technician certification course.
“It was better than Christmas.” He said of his shopping spree at Sears, “I went in there and I grabbed ratchets, I grabbed tape measures, I grabbed safety equipment. It was amazing. I felt like a king.”
When Kevin exited VR in 2012, he continued to jump around to different maintenance technician jobs for several years. Then, in November of 2017, he got an email from a recruiter for CBRE, an American real estate services firm, looking for a maintenance technician for JC Penny stores. He got the job! Three years later, he was promoted to his current position as District Facility Manager, where he manages six technicians who respond to facility issues at 30 stores across the Northwest. For the first time, Kevin feels confident and successful. He has a fulfilling job, recently purchased a home, and is able to maintain healthy relationships with others, including his two adult children.
“I am living my best life,” he said, “and it is because Vocational Rehabilitation gave me the opportunity to correct the situation that I didn’t even know existed.”
Learn more about how VR can help people with mental health conditions get the accommodations they need to be successful at work at oregon.gov/odhs/vr.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diane Navarrete is a Communications Officer for the Oregon Department of Human Services, with a focus on services for people with disabilities.
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