Testimonials

The following testimonials show the benefits of the AbilITy Connection.

The AbilITy Connection is a wonderful organization that provides a wealth of information, support, and networking opportunities. The organization provides students with an expert counselor that provides you with a constructive and positive approach to the individual's goal. They focus on your accomplishments that potential employers are looking for.

The AbilITy Connection organizes forums that have professionals in various IT-related fields that put on demonstrations regarding their area of expertise. The demonstrations are very informational and make a connection to where your skills may be applicable. Many of the professionals go even further and offer to be your mentor that can assist you with your concerns and your development as an IT professional.

The AbilITy Connection helps to organize a connection between IT professionals and entry-level people. It is the people involved that make the program work. I can testify that if you extend yourself and become an active student, good things can happen. I attribute the AbilITy Connection and the generous professionals that contribute their time to my success. The transformation from a carpet installer to a Database Administrator has been wonderful accomplishment. I encourage anyone that is considering the AbilITy Connection to grasp the opportunity.

Sincerely,
Jeffrey Styx
IS Analyst
Children's Hospital and Health System

The AbilITy Connection is all about creating partnerships and opportunities. For disabled individuals, it means forming a partnership with mentors and business professionals during the educational process to obtain real life exposure to the people and tools in the careers they are pursuing. For businesses and organizations supporting the program, it means forming a network of resources and focusing them on eliminating the barriers and fears that inevitably prevent most disabled individuals from becoming productive employees.

As a former student of an AbilITy Connection program, I have experienced firsthand the rewards of working with such a vast and dedicated group of people. Not only did the AbilITy Connection help me progress from an insecure high school graduate to a manager of a software development team. But it prepared me to enter the workforce by providing the resources and experience necessary to overcome the many fears and concerns I had concerning how my disability would affect my job performance as well as how I would be accepted by others.

If there is one thing that I would hope to convey to others, it is that no matter what your skills are today; no matter what your disability and fears are; if you are determined, you can succeed in obtaining a career in the Information Technology field. This task will be made infinitely easier by utilizing the resources that the AbilITy Connection offers.

John Dziewa
Desktop Systems Manager, Officer
Fiserv, Inc.

We use the intern position in situations where the candidate is in school and wants to work to gain experience and income at the same time. We have used intern positions in IS - Technical Support very successfully. In some cases the intern position leads to a permanent placement hire.

Will Olive
IS - Technical Support
Children's Hospital and Health System

The AbilITy Connection provides the student with an excellent background and ready access to interviews.

Tom Schmitt
AbilITy Connection Graduate
MGIC

The AbilITy Connection mentoring program was a morale booster for me!  It gave me confidence in myself and my abilities in IT.

Dave Lenheim
AbilITy Connection Graduate
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin

What I really gained from receiving the (AbilITy Connection) financial assistance was the confidence and moral support I felt. It was a very hard time in my life. I needed one more semester to graduate, I was trying to maintain a good work history at Children's Health System, and I was going through a divorce. I also am confronted with the normal day to day inconveniences everyone has, especially those with disabilities.

I needed to hear someone say, "we believe in you so much we will invest in your future." Because of the value of that financial assistance on a higher plane I made it through the semester.

Michael Maki
IS Analyst Intern
Children's Hospital and Health System