CHUCK BALLARO Charlotte Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services, cuts the ribbon to signify the new home for the Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation on June 23.

The Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, a state agency that helps people with physical or mental disabilities gain and retain employment, realizes that with so many people living in Lehigh Acres, the need for such services is greater than ever.

On June 23, the agency celebrated its new permanent location in the Lehigh Community Services building, at 201 Plaza Drive, Suite 103, with a ribbon cutting attended by staff and members of the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce.

The agency, which has full-time offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples and Port Charlotte, has been in Lehigh part-time for three years before it became a permanent place this past month.

Clients were having a difficult time making appointments in Fort Myers with all the traffic; the new location has eliminated that barrier.

Lindsay Green-Rassoull, vocational rehabilitation supervisor, said the agency serves 300 families at any given time and, with the population growth in the area, the agency was invited to move in permanently.

Charlotte Rae Nicely

“We help people develop plans for employment and assist them in figuring out vocational goals and transitioning youth from high school into work,” Green-Rassoull said.

Many of the people they work with are young and have not attained the skills and experience needed. For them, it is a stepping stone.

“We’re meeting with youth at a much earlier age, which has increased our numbers and helped grow this area,” Green-Rassoull said. “They are looking at career exploration at age 15. We wait until they exit high school to look at careers.”

The services it provides includes medical and psychological assessment, vocational evaluation, career counseling, post-high school training and education, job site assessment, job placement and coaching, on-the-job training and more.

Charlotte Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services, said it is wonderful that it can offer the community this service, along with its other services.

“This is to celebrate they will be here five days a week. Our agency served more than 48,000 people last year and we expect that number to increase this year,” Nicely said. “These are average Joes who have fallen on hard times. They’ve had a crisis and have trouble paying their bills.”

Susan Costyk read a proclamation at the ceremony from the chamber of commerce before Nicely cut the ribbon with staff and dignitaries watching.

“We’re welcoming a new business to the chamber to participate in our activities. We need jobs in the area and many people here need work. If they can match the two up, it’s going to be a win-win for everyone,” Costyk said.

Osmel Valera, one of the counselors, said it is great they can serve the community in this way.

“This is a wonderful culmination of four years of working together with Lehigh Community Services, who have been very supportive for us to provide our presence in the community,” Valera said.