Posted by dave horvath on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 at 8:59AM :
In Reply to: What do all you do for a living???? posted by dave on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 at 11:21AM :
I work in human services trying to make the world a better place for folks with disabilities. Doing my best to put our tax dollars to good use.
Dropped out of high school at age 16 to work in a glass factory. Have been a dishwasher, frycook, made donughts from midnight to 6a.m., and even taught skiing. Went to college and got degrees in Recreation and Parks Management and Rehabilitation Counseling and Vocational Evaluation. I started out wanting to be a park ranger, but have really enjoyed helping others. Part of my own rehabilitation I guess.
I worked at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia for five years serving youth with disabilities in transition from school to work. Then I was state coordnator of transition services for the Commonwealth of Virginia for seven years.
Left that position to come back home to West Virginia to be with my wife and son. Commuted to Pennsylvania where I directed a non-profit agency serving adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Group homes, family living, sheltered employment, supported employment, etc. We did all of the recycling for our county, ran a cafeteria and woodshop. Even made wooden parts for PWs for awhile. Left that position due to local and board politics.
Now working at West Virginia University on a federal grant designed to help people who require personal care to hire their own workers (including friends and family) rather than take whoever the Medicaid agency sends (if anyone). Not me real area of interest or expertise though. Taking the Miller Analogies Test this afternoon to go to doctoral school for educational leadership and policy studies.
Recently built a McMansion in a stuffy subdivision, but my dream is to build a log cabin or timberframe home in the country, possibly on 50 or so acres I own in southwestern PA.
Have a 1950 B2PW that is nearly finished, just need to paint the bed sides. May have to sell it soon though, due to loss of income at my new job. Fortunatley I have a 1967 WM300 that is in the middle of a frame off restoration also. Hope to build a woody or own a Town Wagon someday.
Follow Ups: