Trish…Independent Living All The Way
Occupation: Independent Living Specialist
Trish came to VESID because she knew she had to make a major career
change. Trish had struggled with addiction and with supports, she was
able to recover and become employed. After nine years of successful
employment, providing high level marketing, education and training to
corporations, a very stressful job. Trish developed a disabling
anxiety disorder that forced her to quit her job. Trish went from a self-sufficient
independent person who had overcome addiction, to being dependent on
public assistance and afraid to leave her apartment.
With the help of her mental health counselor and VESID’s counselor, Kim Martin, Trish realized with counseling and guidance, that she could be happy in a human service type job. VESID sponsored Trish at North Country Community College, in Saranac Lake, and she received an Associates Degree in Human Services. She also obtained a trainee certification in Chemical and Alcohol Dependency. VESID helped with financial aid, training and placement services to help her achieve her employment goal. After college, Trish worked as an Addiction and Chemical Dependency Counselor for Sunmount, followed by a job with a community-based program in a total care residential program. Presently, Trish has just completed her first year as an Independent Living Specialist for the Tri Lakes Independent Living Center in Saranac Lake, where she provides peer counseling and advocacy for people with disabilities. She feels that this job is a good match for her.
Gaining employment has enabled her to get off Social Security Disability, live independently in her own home with her husband, and return to college to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Social Work.
Trish appreciates the VESID program for providing a countless number of avenues that a person can take to achieve his/her goal. She gives a lot of credit to her VESID counselor Kim Martin for being so upbeat and concerned about her. She refers people to VESID so that they too can achieve their career goals.
Barbara Zelinski – Acting Regional Marketing
Representative
Malone District Office