Success Story

Occupation:

Switchboard Operator Service - Call Center Operations Fire Command Center

Location:

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital, Denver, Colorado

CRP:

Bayaud Industries

Avis Walker must take three buses to commute to her job as a switchboard operator at the VA Medical Center (VAMC). The commute takes one hour each way, but Avis doesn't mind the time—because now she has a place to go. This was not always the case.

For years, while she fought bipolar depression, anxiety and panic attacks, Avis had been living in and out of homeless shelters. As a result, the California court system had taken away custody of her three children, who, at the time, were ages 4, 7 and 10.

In 1995, the Samaritan House shelter referred Avis to Bayaud Industries, Inc., a Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) based in Denver, Colorado. Avis was fortunate in that she received support—both from Bayaud and from doctors who where able to diagnose her disability and provide appropriate medications to help control her illness.

Avis’ first job with Bayaud was in mailroom operations. She then interviewed and was hired for a switchboard operator position with the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Project at the VAMC. The job is a high-pressure position, where numerous calls, medical codes and alarms can come in throughout the day and night. During her initial training, the pressure associated with the job seemed overwhelming. However, Avis was determined to challenge herself and to succeed on the job. Today, she has become an integral part of the Fire Command Team at VAMC and even serves as the assistant lead operator.

With the steady income from her job, Avis has been able to move out of the homeless shelter and into her own apartment. In 1999, after working diligently to reestablish her credit, Avis was able to purchase her own condominium. Throughout her struggle she has kept one goal in mind-to convince the courts that she is now a capable and responsible mother and, ultimately to get custody of her children.

Avis, working toward that goal, has spent the last two summers with her children. These visits were the first extended, unsupervised times she had spent with her children since they were removed from her custody. The outcome has been very positive for both Avis and her children.

Concludes Avis, “Every day that I go to work, I remind myself that I am doing this so that I can have a normal life and get my children back. My job gives me a chance to be productive. Bayaud has really helped me establish a firm footing. I thank God for putting Bayaud in my life. It has been pivotal in helping me to live a normal life, have a network of friends and co workers, and a life with stability.”

“My job gives me a chance to be productive.” Avis Walker