SUCCESS STORIES
“InspiriTec looks at you for the person you are and the work you do, not the medical condition that you have.”
Joseph • Customer Service Representative • Newark
Technology is one of my passions, but what guides me most of all is helping people and solving problems. However, in 2010, my tech assistant position at a local high school was being reduced and my position was being eliminated. To compound matters, the layoff came in the midst of a major dip in the economy, which kept gainful employment out of reach for many individuals, in my home state of New Jersey, and elsewhere. However, I believe that my physical disability was truly keeping me from becoming re-employed. I have mild cerebral palsy which affects my mobility and vision. Though I do not require a wheel chair, I do not drive myself, and have had issues with standing for long periods, and walking long distances. I worked for many months to obtain the NJ Access Link ADA transportation service to ensure that I would be able to get to interviews or travel further. With transportation issues solved, DVR set me up with a program called America Works, and that led to my eventual hire with InspiriTec in April 2013.
As an InspiriTec consumer services representative serving NJ Division of Consumer Affairs professional licensees, I assisted callers with obtaining and renewing various occupational and health-related licenses. And, I like to think I built up a nice relationship with the callers, who sometimes asked for me by name when speaking to other CSRs, as well as my co-workers. What was new to me was the “office” environment, personal interactions, and pace that accompanied my work, which was quite different from the educational field where I had spent the majority of my working life. However, the supervisors, leads, and my InspiriTec onsite Case Manager were always there if I had a question or faced any difficulty. As I approached the two-year mark with InspiriTec, continuing to perform to the best of my ability, I kept thinking back to my time with the school district; primarily the fact that the previous thirteen years had gone by so quickly. Hindsight is always 20/20, and I always thought that I would do things quite differently if I had the chance. Ultimately deciding to not keep still for very long and given my job’s physical location in a State office, I became aware of a similar “service representative” position working directly for the State of New Jersey. In June of 2015, I acquired that new position with the State as Agency Services Representative leaving InspiriTec on a positive note; and knowing that InspiriTec truly helped me transition to the new and exciting role. Without the guidance, training, and other support that I obtained from people like Susan, Sam, and supervisors Theresa, Michael, and Ryan, I would not have been completely ready to even accept my current position. InspiriTec was true to its mission in my eyes; inspiring me to work, and keep doing my very best!
Join our effort to support Joseph and others with disabilities by donating today.
PHILADELPHIA • WYOMISSING • NEWARK • FORT KNOX
