Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services Division for Blind Services (DBS) - Krystle Hill
Krystle Hill of Paris, Texas doesn’t fit the rigid, button-down stereotype of the Internal Revenue Service. But this vibrant 23 year-old uses her friendly and patient demeanor to help Texans straighten out their taxes, which isn’t always an easy thing to do.
Krystle has never shied away from hard work or let her blindness stop her. She graduated from Paris High School and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Spanish from Stephen F. Austin University. Her own hard work, diligence, and patience brought her to a successful career assisting others. Legally blind since birth, Krystle has been given a leg up by programs in DBS.
Stacey Sewell, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the Texarkana filed office, explained that Krystle has benefitted from agency services since childhood, including the Blind Children’s program, Transition program, and Vocational Rehabilitation.
“Her children’s caseworker, Marcie Glass, and transition counselor, Judy Moore, attended all of her admissions, review, and dismissal meetings to ensure that she received the accommodations needed to complete her high school diploma. Krystle has also worked with Employment Assistance Specialist Roger Purdy, who recommended the assistive technology needed for her to be successful in college,” Stacey said.
While in school, DBS outfitted Krystle with a desktop and handheld closed circuit TV, which greatly magnifies text from paper so she is able to read. She was also given magnification software for her computer that played a vital part in assisting Krystle to earn her degree.
She learned orientation and mobility to travel independently, which was invaluable when she traveled to Spain with a study abroad program at Stephen F. Austin. Krystle also received low vision services, books on tape from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic, and technology evaluations from the DBS Assistive Technology Unit.
Following her European travels, Krystal pursued a career with the Internal Revenue Service. She was accepted into the IRS’ Blind Training program, which she successfully completed. Now, she confidently helps people navigate a frequently confusing array of issues in their taxes.
Through the array of services, encouragement, and support she received from DBS programs during her life, Krystle lives an independent and self-supported life. She reports that she loves her job with the IRS. She's earning a great starting salary and has wonderful health and retirement benefits. Stacey says Krystle is grateful for all the services that she's received from DBS.
