Success Stories

Have you or your VR agency helped a VR customer successfully explore and become self- employed? Are you a VR customer who successfully launched your business? We want to share your story so more people can see the power of self-employment! Share your story through the Success Story form.

Sherry Wynn

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Seven years ago, Sherry Wynn’s life was on a downward trajectory. Chronic pain from a back injury impaired her ability to work a job that had become physically taxing—debt mounted from missed work and medical bills. Eviction loomed. Depressed, hopeless, and experiencing PTSD, a concerned friend described Sherry as “at the end of her rope.”

Sometimes, though, when we least expect it, we meet someone who pulls us up. Enters Linda, the Florida VR counselor assigned to help Sherry find alternative employment. As Linda guided Sherry through an extensive discussion about her skills, interests, and work history, a consistent theme emerged: organization. Linda believed that Sherry’s particular passion and skill for organizing could be developed into a business. This would give Sherry greater flexibility to both work and manage her medical concerns. (View PDF for the Rest of the Story)

Don Whittecar

Don Whittecar Copperplate Engraving - Learn more about Don's self-employment journey as one of only eight wildlife art engravers currently practicing worldwide and how Vocational Rehabilitation Services assisted him in the process of becoming an internationally recognized wildlife photographer and artist.


The video can also be viewed with Audio Descriptions (Opens New Tab)


Blaine

Blaine's on Your Main Success Story - Learn more about Blaine's self-employment journey as the owner and operator of Blaine's on Your Main food truck and how Vocational Rehabilitation Services assisted him in the process of becoming "One Man, One Meal, One Mission."


The video can also be viewed with Audio Descriptions (Opens New Tab)


Straw Hat Farms

Straw Hat Farms Success Story - Marissa is the owner and sole proprietor of Straw Hat Farms in Pleasantville, Iowa. Marissa's at home project of growing plants from seeds and plugs, is now a thriving greenhouse operation. She sells flowers, vegetables, and hanging flower baskets to a client-base she has established over the last four years and is a vendor at area farmer's markets and the Pleasantville High School Spring Plant Sale.


The video can also be viewed with Audio Descriptions (Opens New Tab)


Edgy Meg's

Edgy Meg's Success Story - Learn more about Meg's journey to supported self-employment and her experience as a business owner and how Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services supported Meg and her family in the process.


The video can also be viewed with Audio Descriptions (Opens New Tab)