On July 2, 2018, Congressman Scott Taylor, Representative for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, met with Didlake employees at our Sewell’s Point AbilityOne® contract site. The site visit was an opportunity for Congressman Taylor to meet our employees, learn more about the AbilityOne Program, and better understand how we support our employees in the day-to-day operation of the site. Many of these employees live in his district and are his constituents.

After welcoming Congressman Taylor to Sewell’s Point, Mike Payne, Vice President Contract Operations, and Rachel Payne, Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy, gave a brief history on the AbilityOne Program and Didlake. Ron Estep, Director of Contract Operations, discussed our contracts in the Greater Hampton Roads area, and Program Manager Erik Smith described the rehabilitative supports we provide at contract sites to help our employees succeed at work.

Project Manager Antonio Johnson gave a tour of the clinic explaining the work that is done each day. Along the way, Congressman Taylor had an opportunity to meet and speak to several employees, including Katherine Stubbs. Using American Sign Language, the Congressman signed his first name, and Katherine taught him how to sign “nice to meet you.”

Hosting site visits for Members of Congress is one way of the many ways Didlake builds and establishes relationships between our organization, the people we serve, and our elected officials. Congressman Taylor’s visit allowed us to show how we support our employees to help them achieve goals. It also emphasized the role of the AbiltyOne Program in helping to provide employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities.