Client Spotlight: Liz Patrick

Meet Liz

Liz works as a PROMISE Jobs Advisor at an IowaWORKS American Job Center, where she has been for a little over a month. She says her favorite part of the job is the people she works with and the flexibility it provides. She previously worked as a middle school teacher but decided to change career paths after undergoing a difficult surgery that resulted in significant changes to her vision.

Working with IDB

Liz has been low vision her whole life, but after cataract surgery last year, she experienced significant changes to her vision. She lost much of her close-up vision and began navigating a new way of doing things. As she adjusted to these changes, she began considering whether she wanted to continue teaching or explore a new career path.

Liz reached out to the Iowa Department for the Blind to learn more about available accommodations and was connected with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Together, they worked to identify her career goals and navigate her next steps.

"It was really reassuring to have somebody on my side who knows how to navigate this," Liz shared.

Final Insights

Liz continues to work with the Iowa Department for the Blind as she settles into her new career. She completed a technology assessment and workplace assessment and will soon work with a Rehabilitation Teacher to learn cane travel. When her work schedule allows, she also plans to attend classes at the Orientation Center for the Blind once a week.

For Liz, having the right support has made a meaningful difference as she adjusts to changes in her vision and builds confidence in her new career.

"I never want to feel helpless again, like I did after my surgery. And now it's really great to know that I have a built-in support system," Liz shared.

Want to learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)? Click here to learn more and read more client spotlights!