Senior Woman Advances Independence

For 68-year-old Debra, acquiring essential skills for daily living and working in society has been taxing. Short-term memory loss and functional illiteracy hindered her ability to read or write simple sentences, do basic math, and effectively follow instructions, among other essential life skills.

Referred by VR Nevada and with her guardian’s approval, Debra entered Goodwill of Southern Nevada’s Skills to Enable Personal Success (STEPS) program to assess her skills in a retail setting. With her limitations, Debra required constant supervision and guidance to introduce her to merchandising functions. Using pictograms, color charts and a hands-on guided approach, a Goodwill pre-vocational coach worked with Debra daily to perform tasks such as fastening clothes neatly on hangers, properly working buttons and zippers, and following verbal and modeled instructions.

Thanks to the STEPS program and her perseverance, Debra has been able to apply her newfound skills to daily living. Before entering the program, she never thought she could perform such tasks independently.

Goodwill elevated Debra’s essential life skills.

Learn how Goodwill’s Disability Programs work for Southern Nevada.