Vicki McCauley moved to the Denver area from Des Moines 20 years ago to begin a job at global engineering firm CH2M HILL. Not only has her career with the company been a long and fulfilling one, CH2M HILL has helped McCauley evolve the role over time to accommodate her needs when she acquired a … Continue reading “A Refreshed Opportunity at CH2M HILL”
Success Stories
Success happens. From the accessible office photocopier to the managed care company that “Careers and the disABLED” magazine honored as Corporate Employer of the Year, get the whole story behind employees and companies that are leading, innovating and evolving the workforce.
Read about the successes that companies like yours have had in hiring workers with disabilities, and how their workforce has changed for the better. These stories also chronicle the success of workers who have connected with companies that get it, and who have helped transform their workplace.
Note that views expressed in the Success Stories are those of the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Think Beyond the Label or Health & Disability Advocates.
Prudential’s Reardon Adapts to Hearing Loss
Maryellen Reardon’s life changed dramatically following a serious illness after the birth of her youngest daughter 18 years ago. An antibiotic she took for treatment caused her to lose the majority of her hearing over a six-month period. “My thought at the time was that I will never get to hear my daughter’s voice,” says … Continue reading “Prudential’s Reardon Adapts to Hearing Loss”
At WellPoint, There’s Room to Grow
When it comes to showing off an inclusive culture, WellPoint does it with flair. DiversityInc. ranked WellPoint as one of the Top 10 Companies for People with Disabilities this year, and Careers and the disABLED magazine honored the managed care company as Corporate Employer of the Year in 2012. None of these accolades would be … Continue reading “At WellPoint, There’s Room to Grow”
Asbury Auto Cafe Serves Coffee, and a Purpose
The distinctive aroma of newly brewed coffee lures patrons to Café Blends, a shop located inside one of Atlanta’s major car dealerships. But it’s not just the java that keeps people coming back – it’s the service. Café Blends’ baristas, wearing tan and brown uniforms, all happen to be on the autism spectrum. Many have … Continue reading “Asbury Auto Cafe Serves Coffee, and a Purpose”
How Fred Maahs Makes a Difference at Comcast
Boundless optimism radiates from Fred Maahs, director of national partnerships for Comcast Corporation and vice president of Comcast Foundation. Maahs plays a major role in the strategy behind the company’s community investment efforts. Since 2001, Comcast has invested a $2.5 billion in the local communities it serves in 39 states and Washington, DC. It doesn’t … Continue reading “How Fred Maahs Makes a Difference at Comcast”
A Nurse Who Calls Her Own Shots
Even from the time she was a Girl Scout, Lynne Shaw knew her calling. She didn’t wince when her fellow Girl Scouts approached her for help with bloody injuries in the wilderness. She was known as the go-to scout for all things “boo-boo.” She also routinely helped her mother, who had several health problems and … Continue reading “A Nurse Who Calls Her Own Shots”
Ernst & Young: At the Heart of an Inclusive Culture
As the No.1 company for people with disabilities by DiversityInc., Ernst & Young knows a thing or two about inclusiveness. After all, it’s founder, Arthur Young, had low vision and was hard of hearing. Still, the professional service company’s first commitment is to hire the best talent – and that’s no small task as employees … Continue reading “Ernst & Young: At the Heart of an Inclusive Culture”
Microsoft’s Voice of Accessibility
Speaking to Jenny Lay-Flurrie, you’d never know she has been deaf almost all of her life. Even through her charming British accent, Lay-Flurrie speaks sparklingly clear – like a television news anchor. Her job is senior director for Microsoft’s Accessibility Customer Experience, a demanding role that requires meetings, both in person and worldwide, with customers … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Voice of Accessibility”
A Dual Mission, Accomplished
This Washington, D.C.-area firm specializes in winning federal contracts that help people with disabilities, while employing workers with disabilities to do the work. Sheila Newman knows her way around government contracts, and the nation’s capital. When navigating both, you have to be able speak the language of acronyms, she says. For Newman, so fluent is … Continue reading “A Dual Mission, Accomplished”
Managing Around a Hidden Disability
Jenn Ford carries an invisible burden: A disability that no one can see. As a business manager for Colorado Permanente Medical Group, an affiliate of Kaiser Permanente, her job is demanding, to say the least. Ford oversees many facets of the four medical groups she is responsible for, including business needs, staffing requests and payment … Continue reading “Managing Around a Hidden Disability”