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New Program Launches for People With Disabilities
New Program Launches for People With Disabilities 2/10/13
CBS 7 News
Matt Rist
mrist@cbs7.com
February 10, 2013
ODESSA-It’s something most of us take for granted, but for people like Kathie Braunstein, a double amputee, finding work can mean overcoming obstacles.
The Odessa organization ABLE Center launches a new program next week to get more people in the Permian Basin with disabilities back to work.
Kathie Braunstein lost her legs to Meningitis five years ago and it hasn’t been easy.
"I had no idea the amount of time that it would take for me to learn to live this way,” said Braunstein, who volunteers with ABLE.
Now she gives her time back with organizations like ABLE. It’s launching a new education program that will offer more than 100 people with disabilities more than a dozen classes to get back in the work place.
"A disabled person doesn't want to think that they're all dried up and they can't do anything else,” Braunstein said. “So this gives them the chance to try it and still feel secure that they're going to be able to live independently."
The classes are free if you're disabled, but also open to the public if you make a donation to the group. They focus on everything from computer skills to foreign language to basic interview prep.
"Our economy is great here, but we saw that people were going on job interviews and not getting jobs that they were well qualified for,” said Marilyn Hancock, executive director of ABLE Center.
The new classes hit home for Braunstein, she's worked tirelessly to help the disabled community since her own double amputation.
"I really think it's all about overcoming obstacles,” Braunstein said. “When people see how much disability I deal with, they realize that they can do more."
You can find a list of ABLE’s course offerings on their Facebook page by clicking this link.
Their office number is (432) 580-3439.