An Interview With
Johnny Hayes

  The Georgia Employer Committee would like to share with its viewers the RES's who are vital to the success of the Local Committees throughout the State. This month we meet and talk with Johnny Hayes of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.

 

Tell us your name, your Career Center and how long you’ve been an RES?

JH: - My name is Johnny Hayes and I am a Rehabilitation Employment Specialist with the VR Program located in the Valdosta Career Center. I have been employed for one year with VR. I am affiliated with the South Georgia Employer Committee, International Association of Workforce Professionals, and The Mayors’ Council for People with Disabilities.

 

Do you have any special talents, hobbies or interests you’d like to share?

JH: - My hobbies center on my family, my church and I like to read adventure books. At my church, I counsel with the youth on the challenges all young people face. With my family, I enjoy our “Friday Family Nights.” My two boys and two girls write down their ideas of what to do on slips of paper and place them in a hat. We shake it up and whatever is pulled out of the hat is what we do. The boys enjoy board games and the girls like to go to the park. All four children love to go out to eat but many times Friday is just movie-night at home.

 

What led you to your position as an RES and why?

JH: - For five years I was a high school youth coordinator. Many of the youth with whom I worked also had developmental or learning disabilities. It seemed a natural progression for me to move into a job that would expand my ability to help these same youths as they enter adulthood and the world of work. As a person with a disability I know how hard it is to get employed.

 

What do you feel is unique about the area in which you work?

JH: - The businesses in the Valdosta area are wonderful. More and more employers are looking for good workers and they easily accept and are eager to hire a qualified person regardless of a disability. Also the Valdosta area regularly holds a “Partnership for Help” luncheon sponsored by university and hospital professionals. The purpose of the luncheon is to raise awareness for needy families.
The VR Program office is co-housed with the GDOL Career Center which is unique in the area and provides many resources to me and the employers who come here. As a fairly new person I am happy to work closely with the more experienced Career Center EMR. When new employers come in to the Center, he automatically introduces me to them so I have an immediate opportunity to share the benefits of hiring a qualified person with a disability.

 

As a new employee to GDOL and to your position as an RES, why did you join the Employer Committee?

JH: - The Career Center EMR has worked with the Employer Committee for several years. He suggested that it was a good place to get to know employers and human resource managers. People develop relationships and share job leads/openings and are interested in my referrals. I’ve only been to six meetings, so far, but was very impressed when the Employer Committee supported our Disability Awareness Day by providing a wonderful breakfast.

 

What community activities do you participate in as an RES?

JH: - I participate in all the GDOL job fairs doing intakes, helping to register attendees and recruiting participants. We are currently doing a youth job fair with the RVI (special education) coordinator. I often go to the schools on Career Day and conduct workshops on employer expectations, interview techniques and job possibilities. I attend Chamber of Commerce meetings and am a member of the Valdosta Mayor’s Council for Persons with Disabilities. I am currently assigned to work with the banquet committee.

 

What do you enjoy most about your job?

JH: - I enjoy working with individuals who have a disability, but especially with those whose disabilities are newly acquired. I can easily identify with them since I, too, became disabled at the age of 18. Working with them from the beginning of their journey of recovery to succeeding in a job is very fulfilling.

 

In the future what would you most like to accomplish as an RES?

JH: - I want to spread the word that hiring a person with a disability is not a liability, but more often an asset. I want to remove old stereotypes and replace them with a greater and more accurate awareness of persons with disabilities and what they have to offer. Also, I want to become well-versed in all aspects of disability employment laws so I can be a resource to employers.

 

What future trends do you see in employment needs for your area?

JH: - I see industry growing in my area and a greater need for good workers. In turn, I see that need being met by people with disabilities once employers understand and provide accommodations for them.

 

Johnny Hayes shown with John Armstrong RES,
Susan Dukes CC Manager , Gloria Butler EMR,
Jamon Williams EMR