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Good Deal: Evan Goes to the Capitol

8Developmental Disabilities Services

Tools for Independence

Evan presents Gov. Nathan Deal with at-shirt.

Feb. 21 was a big day for Evan Nodvin.It was Disability Day at the Georgia StateCapitol, one of the largest public gatheringsheld each year during the GeneralAssembly. Evan, a client of the Zimmerman-Horowitz Independent Living (Z-H ILP) andBizWORKS, was selected to introduceGov. Nathan Deal before he addressedthe crowd. Both programs are part of theDevelopmental Disabilities Services - Toolsfor Independence (TFI) division.

The goal of the annual rally is to focusattention on the number of Georgians whohave a disability and to push legislatorsto consider them when making publicpolicy. Evan, who has Down syndrome, isone of seven adults with a developmentaldisability serving on the 27-member boardof the Georgia Council on DevelopmentalDisabilities.

"This is really about Evan being a self-advocate. He likes to speak up, and theothers on the board must have seen that,"said his mom, Janice Nodvin. Janice isProgram Director for Innovative Solutionsfor Disadvantage and Disability (ISDD)."He was very comfortable and confident upthere. He would not be that way if it wasn'tfor JF&CS and a devoted family."

Fa! the past 13 years, Evan, who is 34,has worked as a kitchen assistant at theWeinstein Senior Adult Day Center. Duringthat time, JF&CS has provided job coachingto him through BizWORKS. Without it, his

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life wouldn't be the same, said Janice. Thesupports JF&CS provides through Z-HILP and BizWORKS are paid through theMedicaid Waiver program.

"Without them, work would be challengingand living independently in an apartmentwith a roommate, just like any other man,would be difficult," she said

Evan takes pride in his work, said his jobcoach Rachel Miller, the Coordinator ofVocational Services in TFI.

"Evan enjoys assisting the participants andspending time with them," she said. "Heis dependable and reliable, and comes towork with a smile, ready to tackle the day."

Like other single men, Evan grocery shops,cooks, cleans his apartment, pays billsand manages a check book. He playsmusic, bowls, does yoga, lifts weights andperforms with Habima Theater. He votes,is active in his synagogue and elsewherein the community and donates to variousorganizations. He has a very active sociallife that includes his girlfriend of more than15 years, who also receives support fromJF&CS.

"I am proud of my abilities," Evan said."My parents are happy to see me living mydreams. They tell me that these are theirdreams, too."

Janice credits JF&CS. "Evan could not bethe person he is without JF&CS' support."In addition to Rachel, he spends time eachday with Jean Maitre, a personal consultantfrom Z-H ILP who helps him with afternoonactivities and assists him at home.

"My message to other parents is this.letyour adults with a disability go. Get themout of the nest. The worst thing that couldhappen is they fall, but they'll get back up.We have to let our children be the adultsthey can be. That's one of the thingsJF&CS is all about," said Janice.

"Evan needs to be as much an individualand independent man as possible. JF&CShelps him do that."

BlzWORKS, part of our TFI WORKSsuite, matches employers to skilled jobseekers. To qualify, one must be part of ourresidential services program. For moreinformation about TFI WORKS and the Z-HILp, visit YourToolsForLiving.org. 0

ArtWORKS on Etsy!

Interested in buying some art madeby Tools for Independence WORKSclients? Go to Etsy, a website thatallows users to buy and sell art. OurArtWORKS program has its own"store" on the site where you can justbrowse or make a purchase.

etsy.com/shop/ArtWORKSATL

ArtWORKS promotes our clients'pre vocational skills through themarketing of their artistic creationswhile providing a therapeutic outlet.Learn more about our artists andprogram at Artworksatl.com.

ArtWORKS honored

Kudos to ArtWORKS for receiving theProgram Award from the InternationalAssociation of Jewish VocationalServices (IAJVS). The awardrecognizes individual and collaborativeagency programming achievements.Additionally, ArtWORKS is the proudrunner up for the Kovod Award, givenby the Association of Jewish Family& Children's Agencies (AJFCA). Thataward honors revenue-generatingprograms that utilize alternativefunding sources and cutting-edgetechnology to serve clients.