Message from our Executive Director
My name is Chris Wells, and it is a pleasure to serve the citizens of Georgia as the fourth executive director of the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA).
It has been years since I taught math to high school students, but my work at the GVRA reminds me of that time because it has given me the opportunity to assist individuals on their journey to grow and gain independence through learning and employment.
At the GVRA, we hope our values of transparency, empowerment, accountability, courteousness, and honesty (TEACH) shine through in everything we do to provide Georgians with the highest quality service.
As executive director of the GVRA, I am responsible for numerous federal and state-funded programs designed to help people with disabilities achieve freedom and equality through fulfilling work. Each year, we serve more than 30,000 Georgians with disabilities who are seeking employment through our vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs. Our VR services may be accessed online and at 30 offices throughout the state.
At each of our VR offices, a team of rehabilitation counselors and support personnel assess the needs of Georgians with disabilities who are pursuing a career. These clients’ needs result from a variety of disabilities, ranging from vision and hearing impairments, cognitive difficulties, and ambulatory challenges, as well as self-care and independent living issues.
The agency also oversees an array of programs aimed at helping high school students with disabilities transition into the world of work.
Residential campuses at Roosevelt Warm Springs and Cave Spring offer a unique college-like, wholistic environment to learn and thrive in, with individual attention and customized enrichment.
Our partnerships throughout the state also offer non-residential, school-to-work transition services for students who perform best in a family setting or closer to their support system.
Additionally, we assist clients for whom employment opportunities are significantly limited to obtain appropriate benefits. Under our Disability Adjudication Services
program, the GVRA works closely with the Social Security Administration to review and resolve more than 100,000 Social Security claims annually.
Please contact us at 1-844-367-4872 or at this link, Contact Us | Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, to learn more.
More about Chris: Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Chris, a resident of Smyrna, executive director of the GVRA in June 2020.
Prior to his appointment, Chris served as the Division Director of the Physical and Economic Development Division at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget.
He has been a leader in budget analysis for the Georgia Department of Labor and the South Carolina Executive Budget Office.
He currently serves as a member of Georgia’s Employee Benefit Plan Council and State Workforce Development Board. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and a graduate of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2019.
Wells earned degrees in Political Science and Mathematics from Francis Marion University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Augusta University.
He enjoys spending time with his wife, Shameka, and their dog in Cobb County.