“I wanted more than anything for my daughter to be independent,” she said, “and this gave me renewed hope.”

A Columbia Area Rehab team, headed up by VR counselor, Gardenia Coleman, and flanked by VR staff members Phillip McNeil, Bernard Grant, and Gwen Austin, set out on an unrelenting mission: to make Tiffany Hasty a successful member of America’s work force.

Hasty received counseling and guidance, job readiness training, and career planning. At SCVRD’s work training center she learned work skills and coping mechanisms. She gained self confidence. And after months and months of hard work, Tiffany Hasty, in high spirits and with increased motivation, was ready to find a job.

Job coach Phil McNeil, recalled, “We went through several job tryouts, but all ended in frustration. Sometimes Tiffany became angry. Sometimes she felt like giving up.”

At last McNeil went to Sodexho, the food service provider for USC. Sodexho, with a reputation for excellence and patience and with a long history of hiring people with disabilities, became the perfect match for Tiffany Hasty. She received praise and her first paycheck and began to excel in dining area tasks.

“We all refused to let her give up,” said Katherine Dow, “and she didn’t give up. Just look at her now!”