Recent College Graduate - Finding a Job

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Faces of Hope
April 11, 2004

Getting a job as a recent college graduate is hard enough - worrying about the commute, the benefits, the pay - not to mention finding a position that actually applies to your just-completed studies

For job-seekers with visible disabilities, though, hunting for the perfect post-college career can be even more daunting.

Bryon Riesch works at his station at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. Riesch was injured in an accident several years ago but is now working in information technology with the help of Ability Connections.

Photo/Benny Sieu

AbilITy Connection, a program run by Goodwill Industries in conjunction with the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Business Advisory Council (BAC), aims to alleviate some of the pressure for individuals with disabilities who are hoping to launch a career in information technologies.

Renee Meyers, past AbilITy Connection Coordinator, said the program provides advocacy through mentoring and helps open opportunities to those it serves by arranging mentoring and finding leads on internships and jobs.

"The whole idea is to help (students) get over the bar," Meyers said. "We don't lower the bar."

Bryon Riesch, a 2002 graduate of Marquette University with a double major in marketing and information technology, was injured as a freshman in 1998 when he belly-flopped onto a slick plastic ground slide at a party near the Marquette campus.

After the accident, Riesch suffered from quadriplegia.

As a senior at Marquette, Riesch heard about AbilITy Connection through his Department of Vocational Rehabilitation counselor. He enrolled in the program.

He said AbilITy Connection helped him get where he is today, working in the IT department at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. in downtown Milwaukee after interning at the company during college.

"Northwestern has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to learn, and right now my most important short-term goal is to learn as much as I can here," Riesch, 25, said. "I just want to make the most out of what NML has supplied me with, from an educational standpoint and opportunity for growth."

Because he does not have use of his hands, Riesch uses voice recognition software that types as he dictates. His phone is equipped with a headset, and his mouse has a large roller ball on the top along with four buttons that perform other functions.

"If it wasn't for technology, I would have a really hard time," he said. "Ten years ago, I don't know if I'd be able to do the job I'm doing now. Twenty years ago, I definitely don't think I'd be here (at Northwestern Mutual). The advances in technology have made me productive and given me a good opportunity."

Riesch learned of the initial internship opportunity through his mentor, John Dziewa, whom he met through Ability Connections.

"John was great. He's a very knowledgeable person. He kind of shows you that you can accomplish a lot, no matter what your situation," Riesch said. "Also, he provided me with a springboard for questions."

Dziewa and Riesch both have quadriplegia, and that also helped Riesch learn about dealing with a disability while working in a professional setting, he said.

AbilITy Connection hosts monthly meetings that students and their mentors can attend together, Meyers said. Topics cover but are not limited to business etiquette, resume building and ethics. Individuals working in different aspects of the business world often are invited to speak to the group.

"That was very helpful," Riesch said of the monthly meetings. "I think the best way to learn about a job is hearing from someone who is in it already."

The program typically serves about 30 job-seekers at a time, Meyers said, all of whom are enrolled in IT programs at area colleges or have graduated recently. They usually stay with the program anywhere from six months to two years.

"Our goal in the end is that they meet their employment goal in the IT field," whether it is a full-time or part-time position, Meyers said.

All AbilITy Connection participants are referred to the program through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.