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RaChelle Golson Rocks!

By Nadine Bartholomew, MBA

RaChelle Golson is a Peer Direct Support Profession-
al (DSP) at EPIC. This means that she is an adult with
a developmental disability who supports other
adults with similar diagnoses. In this role, RaChelle
empowers adults with intellectual challenges to
maximize their independence by helping them to
better integrate into their communities.

According to Stephanie Bell, Director of Individual-
ized Supports at EPIC, “RaChelle is many things to
many people. She is a mother, a mentor, and a mo-
tivator. In short, this woman is a force of nature. In
November, RaChelle left the part time job she held
for years to become a full time Direct Support Pro-
fessional for EPIC’s Day Vocational program. Since
that move, RaChelle has blossomed. Her insights
and feedback has influenced several training adjust-
ments for the agency and the impact on some of
her DSP peers can be seen just in their demeanor.”

RaChelle has been living independently since 1994. She worked hard for her own money and truly enjoyed
her single life. While attending Baltimore City Community College, RaChelle fell in love and started a family.
The mother of three children, two girls and a boy, RaChelle acknowledges that it truly takes a village to raise
a child right. “My kids are all perfectly healthy and happy,” says RaChelle. “My eldest daughter is 23 years
old. She graduated from the New York Film Academy and lives in California where she is pursuing a career in
acting. My 14 year old daughter and 11 year old son are both in school here in Maryland. As a single working
mother I tapped into all of the resources that were available to me; the fathers of my children, a friend who
owned a day-care center, my parents, great teachers, and even public assistance programs.” Clearly ,
RaChelle knows how to take charge of life and overcome her challenges.

When asked what’s next, RaChelle says that she wants to start her own cleaning business saying, “Why
should I wait for someone else to create job opportunities for me when I can create them myself? I under-
stand that many people with disabilities need extensive on the job training and that most businesses don’t
have the capacity to be that patient; preferring to hire people who can just get in there and do the job right
away. However, I have that patience and can develop a company that hires people like me.” Rachelle truly
reflects the cutting-edge practices that EPIC is spearheading. She exemplifies our vision that everyone can
and should, regardless of disability, live a respectful and fulfilling life. You rock girl!

Nadine Bartholomew, MBA, is the Marketing Director for EPIC. Nadine has over 18 years of experi-
ence leading community outreach, cause marketing, and corporate communication efforts at both
non-profit and for-profit organizations in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

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