George Ridenour no longer works for the Ann Arbor CIL.
George is the calm, steady, and insightful voice of reason for many individuals facing unique challenges in their lives. As a counselor in the Center’s Independent Living, or “IL,” department, George helps many people battle and overcome issues related to housing, transportation, finances, benefits, and more.
He also is highly skilled and highly successful at assisting individuals to apply for Social Security disability benefits, both in the initial application stage, and during appeals. Much of George’s work is done in partnership with Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Veteran’s Administration. As an individual with a disability himself, George cares passionately about helping individuals overcome barriers and live a high quality life.
Prior to joining the Ann Arbor CIL in 2007, George served as a Senior Aide with HelpSource for two years, where he assisted older adults in various life needs and also worked with St. Joseph Mercy Hospice.
During his career he also worked at the VA Medical Center for twenty-one years. At the VA, he worked with individuals with HIV/AIDS, and also served as a file clerk and a release of information clerk. In addition, George has worked with the Washtenaw County Health Department, where he served for eleven years as a Diseases Intervention Specialist.
Earlier in his career, George has held such positions as a bank clerk, a powdered metal machine operator, and a background investigator for a national credit reporting agency. George began his career as a newspaper boy and is an honorably discharged veteran of the US Army.
George received his Master's in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Michigan in 1995 and is a Licensed Social Worker. George completed his undergraduate work at Eastern Michigan University and attended Ypsilanti High School.
In his spare time, George enjoys poetry, photography, reading, and crossword puzzles. He also works as an archives assistant for the Ypsilanti Historical Society (Archives) on weekends, which he says is one of his biggest joys in life. He loves being a history detective and is now called the Archives' “cadaver dog” for his ability to investigate and dig for stories!
