Celebrating the impact of Olmstead – Success stories from the Olmstead 25th Anniversary Booklet

July 2024 | Celebrating Disability Independence

Headshot of Carolina Zamora-Rocha smiling for the camera

Carolina’s Story

“After 20 years out of the workforce due to chronic illness, Carolina Zamora-Rocha met with Workforce Alliance, an American Job Center in New Haven, Connecticut, to begin her journey to become a certified pharmacy technician. Thanks especially to her Ticket to Work coordinator, Carolina now works as a pharmacy technician for Genoa Healthcare and no longer relies on Social Security benefits.

Larry Phillips, a black man who uses a wheelchair, working with welding tools while at work

Larry’s Story

Larry Phillips dreamed of becoming financially self-sufficient with a career in welding. A wheelchair user with prior justice system involvement, Larry worked with South Carolina’s Vocational Rehabilitation and a local welding school to make his dreams a reality.

Headshot of Ruby Sunshine-Taylor, a Black woman with short hair, smiling for the camera

Ruby’s Story

Financial Joy School, led by CEO and Founder Ruby Sunshine Taylor, empowers Black youth and families by demystifying complex financial concepts. Ruby has spoken with lawmakers, written a bestseller, and served as an “Entrepreneur in Residence” for 2-Gether International, a startup accelerator for disabled founders. Jhiya

Headshot of Jhiya Cooper, a young, Black woman, smiling for the camera

Jhiya’s Story

Jhiya Cooper participated in one of the first Guided Group Discovery cohorts in the D.C. public school system, which landed her an internship in hospitality and several paid jobs, including work at a cruise company.