Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:01 — 9.3MB) | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

WORKING FROM HOME OPENS THE DOOR TO EMPLOYING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

DAVID SHURNA

No Barriers USA executive director – Fort Collins, CO

KATHY MARTINEZ

Disability and Accessibility Strategy for Wells Fargo – San Francisco

LANCE LAVERGNE

Wells Fargo Enterprise Talent Acquisition Strategy & Programs manager – New York, NY

JOSE GARCIA

Wells Fargo Diversity Talent Acquisition Strategy National Partnerships and Programs manager – Charlotte, NC

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in four U.S. adults – 61 million Americans – have a disability that impacts major life activities, including the workday commute. Prior to the pandemic, the disability community advocated to work from home, as a reasonable accommodation, and was often denied. Companies also experienced challenges implementing large-scale teleworking capabilities.

Since then, ongoing stay-at-home orders in many U.S. states and cities have normalized working from home and modified work schedules. Managers are seeing that being in the office is not the only path to collaboration and creativity. The new workplace environment is a ‘silver lining’ that may create employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law July 26, 1990. The 30th anniversary of the ADA celebrates progress in access and inclusion.
• For decades, the disability rights movement has fought for equality and accessibility, and throughout history, people with disabilities have helped shape a universal future.
• The No Barriers Summit, a two-day experiential event, seeks to empower people to break through barriers and provide connections to employment and financial health opportunities.

In this interview, Executive Director of No Barriers Dave Shurna will discuss No Barriers USA, a nonprofit organization with focused programming designed to empower people to break barriers, specifically people with disabilities, youth and veterans. Shurna will be joined by Wells Fargo’s (INSERT SECOND SPOKESPERSON), who will share his/her story about challenges and triumphs as a person with a disability.

For information about The No Barriers Summit, please visit NoBarriersUSA.org

MORE ABOUT DAVID SHURNA:

After losing his hiking boots to a hungry hyena on the Nyika Plateau of northern Malawi, David Shurna and his friends spent a few intense months backpacking across Southern Africa while crafting their personal visions for changing the world. Years later, Shurna would become the Executive Director of No Barriers USA, an organization dedicated to helping people unleash the potential of the human spirit.

MORE ABOUT KATHY MARTINEZ:

Kathy Martinez was born blind. She oversees the development and execution of enterprise business and marketing strategies supporting people with disabilities and their families. She is focused on delivering an experience that recognizes disability as a natural part of the human condition and helping people with disabilities fully engage with the bank to succeed financially. Martinez joined Wells Fargo in March of 2015 from the U.S. Department of Labor where she served as the assistant secretary of the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). When joining Wells Fargo, Martinez connected with Accommodations Management to have access to JAWS, a computer screen reader program that allows blind and visually impaired users to read the screen either with a text-to-speech output or by a refreshable Braille display.

MORE ABOUT LANCE LaVERGNE:

Lance LaVergne had a rare malignant soft tissue sarcoma. For him, that meant 25 days of radiation treatment followed by a 12-hour surgery to amputate his fifth metacarpal and little finger; transfer several tendons; and remove bone, muscle, and tissue in his right hand. Following the treatment, LaVergne adapted to a hunt-and-peck style of typing. Not being able to work at the same pace or efficiency was a daunting prospect. Wells Fargo Accommodations Management suggested he begin using an ergonomic keyboard and voice recognition software, and quickly secured both for him. The tools ultimately helped LaVergne be more productive at work and adjust to his new normal.

MORE ABOUT JOSE GARCIA:

Jose Garcia faced a colon cancer diagnosis and underwent major surgery in March 2016 to remove a portion of his colon. Following the surgery, Garcia was on medical leave for two months. Wells Fargo helped him transition back to work with reduced hours and a flexible work schedule. The medical leave and temporary accommodations allowed him to focus on his recovery. Garcia shares his personal story to promote the importance of colon cancer screening, and encourage people experiencing disability to utilize available resources.

Produced for: Wells Fargo