Success Stories

FROM INJURY TO OPPORTUNITY

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Mary S., a former Allied student was one of several honorees at CARRP's "Many Faces of Success" awards ceremony held at Luminarias Restaurant in Los Angeles on July 26th, 2001.

The event was sponsored by the California Association of Rehabilitation & Reemployment Professionals (CARRP) and spotlighted injured workers who have overcome adversity and successfully returned to the workforce after completing the vocational rehabilitation process.

Several Admissions Representatives form Allied Business Schools, Inc. were in attendance to congratulate Mary as she received her certificates of achievement.

Mary was employed as an Electrical Lead on B2 Bombers for a large aerospace and defense company. Unfortunately, due to working for extended periods of time in tight spaces, she suffered damage to the median and ulnar nerves in her right arm. With painful carpal tunnel, it was clear that she would be unable to continue doing such detailed work.

To make matters worse, her career retraining options were limited. Mary often felt pain in her arm while driving, so therefore commuting to a training facility would only aggravate her injury. Her vocational rehabilitation counselor, Carmen Thompson from Vocational Exploration Services was the one who suggested Allied Business Schools' home study programs.

It was not difficult for Mary to choose a new career path. She has close friends in the real estate and appraisal fields, and she always thought their work sounded interesting! She quickly enrolled in Allied's Real Estate Salesperson Licensing and Real Estate Appraisal Licensing.

Mary was an excellent student, and was highly motivated to succeed. She passed both courses and then went on to pass the California state licensing exam for Real Estate Sales and Real Estate Appraisal.

For the past three months, Mary has been working as a real estate hostess and assistant, and is currently training for a sales position with a major home builder. While selling real estate is quite a dramatic change from working on a B2 Bomber, Mary is extremely happy with her new direction in life and she couldn't be more excited about her future!

Darnell N., a former Allied student, was one of several Southern California honorees who received certificates of achievement at the second annual "Many Faces of Success" awards ceremony on July 20th at the Quiet Cannon Restaurant in Montebello. The event was sponsored by the Los Angeles Region of the California Association of Rehabilitation & Reemployment Professionals (CARRP).

The recipients were recognized for overcoming adversity and successfully returning to the workplace after completing the Vocational Rehabilitation process.

Darnell's wife Felezesiein, his two children Dominique and Phillip, and Admissions Representatives from Allied Business School, Inc., were in attendance to cheer him on as he received his certificates. Darnell and the other honorees were congratulated by several community leaders and guest speakers including the President of CARRP, Linda Bello-Ruiz, Assemblyman Bob Pacheco, and television news anchor, Bree Walker.

Statistics show that approximately 40,000 to 50,000 injured workers in California receive vocational rehabilitation benefits each year, and an estimated 43 percent of those individuals successfully return to work after completing vocational training. However, behind every statistic is a story, and Darnell's journey from injured worker to successful real estate salesperson illustrates why vocational rehabilitation works so well.

In April of 1992, Darnell fractured his left foot while on the job as a painter for the County of Los Angeles. He spent the following six years undergoing multiple surgeries to repair the damage, but unfortunately, his foot never healed properly. Darnell's doctors concluded that he should retire and find a new line of work.

Darnell was now faced with the challenge of finding a new career path. After some serious consideration, he decided on a career in real estate. Darnell and his rehabilitation counselor, Carmen Thompson from VES contacted Allied Real Estate School and he quickly enrolled in their Real Estate Salesperson and Real Estate Appraisal course.

With encouragement from his counselor and assistance from Allied's "On Track Personal Service", Darnell passed the Real Estate Salesperson course and then passed the California state licensing exam on his very first try. He also passed Allied's Real Estate Appraisal course and is now qualified to sit for the Appraisal state licensing exam, which he plans to take soon.

Since receiving his real estate license less than ten months ago, Darnell has sold three homes and is currently working with two very interested home buyers - a feat that any seasoned real estate salesperson would envy and proof that career retraining through vocational rehabilitation really works!

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