Justin was born with Bilateral Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, a condition that occurs when the optic nerve axons aren’t developed properly. He remembers his grandmother taking him to the Lighthouse of Pinellas when he was a toddler.
At age 27 and armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Justin was ready to begin working. He returned to the Lighthouse for job placement assistance. He told his case manager, “I never really knew what I wanted to do. But, I knew I wanted to help people.”
Lighthouse staff helped Justin write his resume and cover letter, search for positions online and practice interviewing skills. One day, his case manager noticed a positon open for a Youth Development Specialist at the YMCA before-and-after-school program her son attends. Justin applied for the job and was hired!
“It’s the perfect job. I get to work with kids and I’m making a difference,” Justin said. “The Lighthouse was a valuable resource to me. They have a great supportive team that helped me not just with finding a job, but also with living skills, mobility and computer skills.”