As a former paratransit driver, Vicky Murray provided safe and reliable transportation to passengers with limited mobility. She never imagined that one day she, too, would find herself with a disability.

Vicky worked for the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation before she was involved in a work-related accident while assisting a woman in a wheelchair. She tore her shoulder and sustained major injuries to her back and, as a result, she suffers from chronic pain.

After being unemployed for two years, Vicky found a new job with the help of a local employment agency. But, she quit shortly after because the long hours and strenuous work proved too much for her. Vicky was then unemployed for three more years.

After several other setbacks, Vicky found a new lease on life and set her mind back to her goal of returning to work.

“I suffer from pain every day of my life,” Vicky said. “I can either sit at home and hurt or sit at work and hurt.”

Vicky contacted her local vocational rehabilitation office where she was then set up with an employment specialist who told her about Tommy Nobis Center.

Vicky joined forces with the Tommy Nobis Center subsidiary Nobis Enterprises to search for a job that fit her pace, abilities and schedule. Nobis Enterprises employs people with disabilities to perform work for the federal government. The subsidiary is the sole provider for the US Housing & Urban Development Department (HUD) administrative contracts in 19 locations across 17 states.

With the help of Nobis Enterprises’ HR manager, Vicky interviewed for a general clerk position at the HUD office in Indianapolis, IN and was the perfect candidate for the job. Before she knew it, she was a member of the HUD team as a Nobis Enterprises employee.

Having helped so many people with disabilities, Vicky never thought she would find herself on the receiving end of this assistance. She had always been independent, which made asking for help a challenge.

“I had to overcome a lot and the people at Tommy Nobis Center have been wonderful,” she beamed. “Everyone I have spoken to has been nice and even my supervisor, who is in another state, is so understanding and helpful.”

Today, Vicky works 20 hours a week at HUD completing administrative tasks and is working to build up her pace to eventually take on more hours.

“A lot of people don’t understand what people with disabilities go through on a daily basis, so working for a company that understands is a blessing and I appreciate it.”