For Amanda Tibbetts of Winchester, Virginia, the road to a fulfilling career wasn’t necessarily a straight one—but it was paved with resilience, self-advocacy, and a bold leap into a registered apprenticeship.
A former kindergarten teacher, Amanda began to struggle with something that made her job nearly impossible during the latter days of the COVID-19 pandemic: hearing loss. “I noticed I was having so much difficulty hearing my students under their masks,” she recalled. “It was completely impossible to do my job.”
Though her husband had mentioned concerns about her hearing for years, Amanda hadn’t realized just how much it was impacting her professional and personal life until it affected her ability to teach. That’s when she turned to the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) for help.
Through DARS, Amanda received hearing aids that, in her words, “improved my quality of life 100%.” But the support didn’t end there. As burnout from teaching began to take its toll, and Amanda started to explore other options, a serendipitous visit to her hearing aid provider opened a door she hadn’t considered.
“I went in for supplies and discovered there was an opening for a third specialist at the practice,” Amanda said. “They weren’t advertising the position, but I had the bravery to open the conversation, gave the owner my updated resume, and it turned into an excellent career change for me.”
With the help of DARS and its Pathways to Careers program, Amanda and her new employer worked together to create a Registered Apprenticeship (RA) that led her to a new career as a Hearing Aid Specialist. This brand new RA program was made possible through the establishment of Hearing Aid Services & Sales, LLC, which sponsors her as an apprentice.
Today, Amanda is simultaneously working hands-on to complete the RA’s On-the-Job Training (OJT) requirements and completing its Related Instruction (RI) requirements online, in preparation for taking her practical licensing exam in 2026. What’s more, the establishment of the new RA program means other people, whether DARS clients or not, interested in a career as a hearing aid specialist can pursue it—something Amanda highly recommends.
“The experience of becoming an apprentice has been exciting and scary at the same time,” Amanda shared. “But what I like best is the hands-on learning. Being immersed in the career really gives you an understanding of whether or not the job will be right for you.”
For Amanda, the switch in careers has brought not only purpose but fulfillment. “In teaching, I felt like no matter how much effort I put in, I was never doing enough. I was constantly burnt out,” she said. “With my current career, I know I’ve done a great job when my clients are hearing well. It’s a very rewarding feeling to know you’ve affected people in a positive way.”
Support from the Pathways to Careers program played a crucial role in making her career transition feasible. “Without DARS, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable or had the ability to switch careers,” she said. “Changing into a new career shouldn’t be cost prohibitive, and DARS made sure I had the study materials, the online class, and the licensing fees covered.”
Amanda meets regularly with her Registered Apprenticeship Consultant and DARS’ Pathways Apprenticeship Liaison to review progress toward her career goals. Her journey highlights the power of self-advocacy, community resources, and the potential of apprenticeships to create new opportunities. Now, she looks ahead to one day opening her own practice.
Her advice to others living with a disability? Be proactive, stay open-minded, and recognize your strengths. “I wasn’t sure if I would actually love being a Hearing Aid Specialist,” Amanda admitted. “But all my past jobs—even teaching—prepared me for this. People often think a disability means you’ll struggle to excel, but if you find the right work, it never feels like a job. I get to help people with hearing every day, and it makes me a better specialist because of my disability.”