Vaughn House clients are encouraged and supported in efforts to work and work independently (please see programs page). Let us tell you about on of our clients, Rodney Gibson.

Rodney is one of those people who always shows up to work early with a smile on his face. He's happy to have a job; he's happy with his life; he's just an all-around happy person. He doesn't let his hearing impairment or other disabilities get in the way of anything; instead he uses his friendly personality and endearing smile to communicate with those around him. For the past three years, Rodney has handled janitorial services at the Texas Department of Transportation's Austin district office where he spends five days a week sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning windows and removing trash. When asked to work in a different area or to do something out of his normal routine, he is always eager to try something new and anxious to prove he can excel at it. He takes true pride in his job and it shows thorugh his willingness, integrity and great work. Rodney, who has worked for Vaughn House on and off since 1985, attributes a great deal of his happiness to his job and the experiences through his years of employment with the organization. His job has given him the independence, sense of community and responsiblity he needs for a strong self-esteem. While Rodney sees his quickness as his strongest quality, his supervisor thinks his friendly personality and hardworking nature are irreplaceable. Not to mention his positive outlook on life which, in turn, affects the rest of his team. People who are around Rodney just enjoy their day more. It's as simple as that. We hear you loud and clear, Rodney. That smile says it all.

(Content courtesy TIBH)