Deanne Azbell loved teaching computer skills to middle and elementary school students. However, the onset of femoral tremors made her feel inefficient at her job and it was driving her crazy. Having always believed that learning is a life-long experience, she decided to gather her talents and move in a completely new career direction.

Azbell contacted the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission for help. With Counselor Michelle Randolph-Jones, she developed a plan that could place herin an administrative assistant position using speech recognition software for data manipulation. RSC called in Elicia Flom, a certified trainer in Dragon Dictate - the speech recognition application that could accommodate Azbell. Flom happened to be providing technical assistance to another RSC consumer in Azbell's neighborhood, Rosemarie Rossetti (see NewsNet cover story, Nov./Dec. 2002). A published author and in-demand motivational speaker, Rosetti wasn't finding time to sleep thanks to her burgeoning multiple business endeavors. An admininistrative assistant was just what she needed and Flom suggested that she meet with Azbell.

Azbell was hired by Rossetti just in time to proofread and promote Rossetti's new book "Take Back Your Life!" which includes 20 articles about her recovery from spinal cord injury. The two women are taking database training together and their computer systems will be compatible so that Azbell can work from her home. Click here to purchase her new book.