SUCCESS STORIES

My mother become ill with Chicken Pox during her first trimester of pregnancy, which eventually infected me in the womb. When I was born, the doctors told my parents that I would be unable to see, walk or talk. I would defy the doctors’ original assessment and progressed as a child to enjoy reading and listening to music. However, I could not engage in many physical activities because of my vision issues (Core Retinal Scarring). Despite my vision impairment, I never felt different until grade school. Middle students would tease me and treat me differently as I struggled to use assistive technology equipment. Eventually, I transferred to the Kentucky School of the Blind (KSB) during ninth grade where I excelled and was named class Valedictorian.

After high school, I worked for the Base Supply store on Fort Knox. During my bus commute one day, I struck up a conversation with a woman who I would later learn was a vocational rehabilitation counselor. The counselor got to know me from our daily commutes and felt that I would be a perfect fit for InspiriTec and so she asked my for a resume. I went to the interviews and was hired as a CSR in November 2014.

I excelled in our call center environment from day one. After just six months in the CSR role, my supervisor recommended me for a promotion to an Advisor role, where I served as a stand in supervisor when the Team lead was unavailable or absent. Three month later, I was promoted again to my current Team Lead position. As Team Lead, I direct and supervise a team of ten CSRs. I ensure that my team’s performance metrics are achieved by facilitating daily coaching and feedback interactions with CSRs. I also handle routine and escalated customer calls. I have been instrumental in raising my team’s performance.

I have flourished in my professional, as well as my personal life, as I have gained an enormous amount of independence. InspiriTec’s Case Management (CM) team has collaborated with the Kentucky Office for the Blind in providing me with assistive technology accommodations. I utilize three large monitors, specialized software, as well as an electronic magnifying screen to successfully manage my Team Lead duties. InspiriTec assists me in organizing transportation through peer supports at the call center, as well as the workforce program through the Transit Authority of Kentucky. This allows me to participate in rotating and alternating team lead shifts.

Through my promotions, I am able to show others with similar challenges what is possible through hard work and dedication. I attribute my strong work ethic to my father who always stressed the importance of striving to become a productive member of society and to never settle for being treated differently because of my disability. My role as a successful Team Lead results in added income, which has ultimately allowed me to move out of my mother’s home and independently rent my own apartment. I take an active role in advocacy among my peers. I outline misconceptions and behaviors that could be offensive to individuals living with a disability and utilize my CM team to teach my peers and supervisors about disability etiquette. I received the “2015 Consumer of the Year Award” from the Office for the Blind for my accomplishments at InspiriTec. I share my accomplishments with others in the workplace and help them see how they too can find their own path to success. I want others living with a disability to hear my story and see what is possible!

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