About the Presenters

Sara Kendall

Sara Kendall has been assisting people with disabilities to achieve their vocational goals for over three decades. Sara is currently a Program Specialist for Texas Workforce Commission-Vocational Rehabilitation Division (TWC-VRD). She is certified through the Social Security Administration as a Community Partner Work Incentives Counselor. Sara created and implemented Texas Workforce Solutions-Vocational Rehabilitation Services’ (TWS-VRS) Benefits Subject Matter Utilization Resource Facilitator (SMURF) program. SMURFs provide counseling and guidance to TWS-VRS customers and do presentations on benefits and work incentives to community partners. Sara acts as the TWC-VRD liaison to HHSC long term supports and services programs.

Kelly Yarbrough

Continuously working with people with every imaginable disability for over 30 years in various settings, Kelly Yarbrough, Deputy Regional Director for Texas Workforce Solutions – Vocational Rehabilitation Services, has developed a sharp understanding of the disability community and understands the intersection of numerous agencies with the public vocational rehabilitation program (VR). Her unique blend of experience as an interpreter, vocational rehabilitation counselor, contractor, congressional staffer and policy analyst provides insight as to how the livelihood of thousands of people with disabilities depends on the quality customer service of those who provide the services by our agencies. Kelly has decades of experience working as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, program specialist, Deputy Regional Director for Texas Workforce Solutions.