Shannon Hargrove never dreamed she’d be working for the Commonwealth of Virginia. However today, thanks to the Pathways to Careers program, she has a rewarding government career as an Office Services Specialist with the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS).
DARS happens to be an organization that Shannon knows well since she, herself, was a recipient of its vocational rehabilitation (VR) services. Because Shannon expressed an interest in public-sector employment, her VR counselor suggested she participate in DARS’ Pathways program. Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Pathways helps Virginians with disabilities prepare for and succeed in meaningful careers with potential for increased earnings and advancement.
Among other sectors, the Pathways program focuses on state government employment, leveraging Virginia’s innovative Alternative Hiring Process (AHP). Implemented in 2022, the AHP allows Virginia state agencies to take advantage of a noncompetitive hiring process designed to advance the Commonwealth's commitment to equal employment opportunities for all.
A person applying for a state job through the AHP must be certified as an individual with a disability that results in a barrier to employment as determined by a VR counselor. This certification is documented in the form of an AHP letter (previously called a Certificate of Disability). Individuals interested in state jobs then submit the AHP letter with their application.
For Shannon, who has a form of cerebral palsy called spastic dysplasia, obtaining an AHP letter was the first step in finding her new job, which she began in early 2024. “The DARS Pathways program and receiving a Certificate of Disability gave me the confidence to step out on faith and apply for a state job,” she says.
Through Pathways, Shannon also benefitted from additional services intended to help participants in the program not just obtain employment, but also succeed over the long term. “I also received insight on saving money, how to build your credit and maintain good credit from the MoneyWi$e classes,” she says. In addition, she participated in a job club hosted by DARS specifically for people with disabilities seeking or currently employed in state jobs.
Today, Shannon directly serves the DARS Commissioner. Her daily responsibilities include answering and directing calls to the commissioner's main phone line and tracking and responding to constituent inquiries. She also serves as a point of contact during emergency evacuations and provides general back up to front office staff. What she likes best about her job is helping people access resources needed to solve problems or achieve their goals.
Given her experience, Shannon now encourages other job seekers with disabilities to consider participating in the Pathways program, whether they’re interested in state government employment or one of its other focus areas, such as apprenticeships and STEM-H. “Pathways will teach you how to develop your skills and figure out what career pathway you would like to go in,” she says. “Take every opportunity to take every class offered through Pathways because it really helps.”
She also encourages people to consider how their experience with disability can add value to organizations, leading to creative solutions and new perspectives on how to get the job done. “Embrace your differences,” she says. “I know by experience that people with disabilities can do anything and everything they put their mind to.”