Press Releases

BY YEAR : 2010 | 2011 | 2012

• 12/29/2011
  CARF is Coming to Ability Beyond Disability
• 11/18/2011
  Help Returning to Work
• 10/28/2011
  Ability Beyond Disability and Community Raises Funds and Awareness for National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• 10/13/2011
  Broadway Star and Mother Raises $18,000 For Ability Beyond Disability
• 10/11/2011
  Community Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month
• 09/28/2011
  Mercedes-Benz Golfers Raise Over $136,000 For Ability Beyond Disability
• 08/17/2011
  Ability Beyond Disability is Currently Hiring Direct Care Staff
• 08/16/2011
  Ability Beyond Disability Named Dorothy Leary Human Resources Business Partner Focusing on Total Rewards
• 07/28/2011
  Ability Beyond Disability Awarded $4,000 from The Community Foundation of Dutchess County
• NEXT

A Second Career

 

In April 2006, Kevin’s life changed forever. While playing on the trampoline with his son the unimaginable happened. Kevin had been hurt; he could not move; he could not feel anything. Kevin had suffered a spinal cord injury and was paralyzed.

Afterwards, Kevin spent a lot of time moving through hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. He survived his injury and moved back home. The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) from the State of Connecticut funded some home modifications and today, Kevin remains at home with his family. He is paralyzed from the shoulders down and is in a motorized wheelchair requiring 24-hour care. Kevin has a positive demeanor, a great sense of humor, loves hockey and has one of those “radio” voices that could command an army.

Two years ago Kevin came to Ability Beyond Disability. He was doing well with his rehabilitation, but missed working and using his mind; and needed help finding a job.Ability Beyond Disability’s Career Development team worked with Kevin to find a suitable job but he needed to work from home due to his limitations. A few months ago Employment Specialist Peter Vigliano took over his case and decided to take a different approach to the job search. He met with Kevin and his wife and asked them to write down all of the people they knew…all of the people in their network. Peter firmly believes, “Networking should always include utilizing the consumer’s network as much as possible to increase the chances of employment”. Their Allstate insurance agent, Tim Haas, was in Kevin’s network and he had a local office in New Fairfield. Peter gave him a call, and asked if he’d be willing to meet and discuss employment possibilities for Kevin.

Tim was all for it and the rest is history. Kevin formerly worked in sales and was great on the phone and Tim needed help with customer phone calls...a perfect fit. BRS upgraded his computer to operate using some incredible voice recognition software. Kevin was able to start making retention, prospecting and customer satisfaction calls for Allstate from his home. Peter worked closely with Kevin and Tim but pretty soon it was obvious that Tim was a natural support system for Kevin. The two work well together and Kevin has proven himself to be an asset to Allstate and to Tim. With Kevin’s great success at his new job, Peter and Ability Beyond Disability were able to step out of the relationship altogether. This is the ultimate goal that we hope to see each consumer of Career Development eventually reach.

We are so grateful that Tim was able to see the “ability beyond disability” in Kevin. In Tim’s own words, “I had every confidence in Kevin. His mind is sharp and he is a great guy, whether he can work with his hands and arms or not.”