by Edward Zolotarevsky
During my junior year of college (January of 1991), I lost my vision in a freak accident. I was pushed out of a window during a botched robbery attempt. This accident led to my blindness as well as many other injuries. I continued my education and graduated from college in May of 1994 with a degree in engineering. After looking unsuccessfully for work in my field, I decided to try to start some kind of small business from home. While doing my research, I found out about Lift, Inc. in a work- at-home directory. Lift is a non-profit company that recruits, qualifies, trains and hires information technology professionals who have physical disabilities and places them with major corporations. After being accepted into the Lift program, I began training as a mainframe programmer in January of 2000.
In February of 2000, my wife, infant son and I moved to New Jersey from Ohio. In August of 2000, I completed the full-time training and began working full-time at Verizon Wireless. Unbelievably, it took me six long years to find any kind of job, but the job I finally found is one I absolutely love. Not only am I able to earn an excellent living to support my family, but I am also able to use my intellect and problem-solving ability to solve real challenges every day. I am never bored! And since I interact with a lot of people at work, my social life has significantly improved.
In May of 2001, I was recognized as Employee of the Month at Verizon Wireless. I have just turned 32 and love my job. Before you know it, I will turn into the vice president!
In April of 2001, Lift asked that I participate in a presentation at Johnson & Johnson headquarters so that management at J&J could meet local area Lift programmers and hear about their experiences. Johnson & Johnson and Verizon Wireless are two of more than 80 corporate clients that Lift has served.
Below are some excerpts from my presentation at Johnson & Johnson:
- Before I found Lift, I was a lost soul aimlessly searching for employment. As soon as interviewers saw the cane and glasses, I got the proverbial door slammed in my face.
- When I initially submitted my credentials to Lift, Lift sent me a test to complete and return. After a series of discussions, Lift decided I had the intellectual ability to work for them, and the motivation, but they told me I was not ready to work in the corporate world. Rather than slam another door in my face, though, they told me what I would have to do to make myself ready. I spent a month at the Cleveland Sight Center in Ohio (rehabilitation center), and asked my rehabilitation counselor to re-refer me to Lift. Lift hires only the best of the best.
- Lift set up an interview for me with Verizon Wireless, and sent training material on computer disk and CD-ROM to help me learn the COBOL, DB2, and JCL that I would need for the job. Lift helped me to get housing in Bedminster, NJ, close to work. Although my group has since moved to a new building in a nearby town, I use the Verizon Wireless shuttle bus to get to work and back every day.
- I go to work at the company five days a week. Lift provided the adaptive equipment for work: speech access for the computer, a braille display, and a scanner for printed material. Additionally, they assigned a mentor to work with me during the training process, and the first few months of work.
- Finally, I recommend that every cost-conscious employer consider hiring blind computer programmers. We can save you lots of money, because we do not need computer monitors or lights!
If you are interested in more information about Lift please visit their web site at www.lift-inc.org or call Lift at (908) 707-9840 or (800) 552-5438.