In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we’re sharing thoughts from some Western Pennsylvanians about their personal experiences in the workplace and how to improve future job opportunities for people with disabilities.
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Bill Chrisner, III M.Ed./M.P.A.
Disability Advocate/Non-Profit Management Consultant
“Employment is the key to self-worth and independence. Bringing home a paycheck that gives you spending money, money to buy groceries and pay the rent, and a way to buy gifts for loved ones is everything.”
Chris Noschese
Teacher for 35 years at the Western Pennsylvania School for Deaf
On his own experiences:
“[While working at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf as a dorm house parent] … they asked me if I could sub as a teacher and I just really fell in love with teaching. So I signed up for the University of Pittsburgh for a teacher certificate. I got my certificate and my master’s in deaf education.”
On how to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities:
“We need to have more private company involvement in accepting the deaf. …We end up just mostly working for the federal or the state [governments]. But I would really like to see more from the private sector.”
Chaz R. Kellem
Senior Director, Advocacy for Race & Gender Equity
Center for Race and Gender Equity
On his own experiences:
“My employment journey thus far has been in connection with great mentors and sponsors in which have embraced my skill set while supporting any challenges along the way. Doubt often lingered early on with expectations being low and challenging the norm was an important obstacle to overcome. Simply providing me an opportunity early was a crucial step to showcase and highlight my abilities while recognizing my approach to problems, challenges, and tasks was done through a creative lens which employers find refreshing.”
On how to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities:
“We as a community have to expand our expectations and sense of what persons with disabilities can and will accomplish. I hope someday we raise the level of expectations while also keeping an open mind to hiring qualified candidates that are diverse and unique. Stable and consistent employment is one of the goals and economic impacts can be one of the positive results.”
“As a community, we cannot forget that we have come a very long while but we still have a lot of work to do to improve the employment opportunities for the disability community. It will take those within the disability community and those without to make a positive change with regards to hiring persons with disabilities. We must continue to provide skilled candidates to fill jobs while working with hiring managers to give our community a chance.”
Jeff Hladio
Store Associate
Pennsylvania Air National Guard Base Supply Center
On his own experiences:
“Employers can learn a lot from people with disabilities without realizing it. For example, my first manager recognized my ability to understand technology. She would give me the phone when our IT department called.”
On how to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities:
“I think it would be great if a job fair was held specifically for companies that are looking to fill positions with people with disabilities. As in life, with any challenges, my advice is don’t give up.”
