When Andrew graduated from college in 2007, he was having a hard time finding a job. Often, he would get an interview, and once the employer realized he was deaf he simply wouldn’t get a call back.
“I realized I was experiencing discrimination, as were a lot of people with disabilities,” Andrew said.
Andrew applied for over 200 jobs all over the United States but just wasn’t getting any offers.
To help Andrew overcome these barriers, DEED’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) set him up with a private company that helped him with his interviewing skills. This way Andrew could talk to interviewers about accommodations he would need and what government assistance was available.
Finally, VRS set Andrew up with a contract job at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) inspecting airport terminals for American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. Andrew’s contract with the state was extended twice before ending in 2016, and he started looking for work in the private sector. Eventually he got an interview with Doran Companies, a construction, development and commercial property management firm.
“They didn’t seem to see me as a person with disability,” Andrew said. “They were just impressed with my experience.”
Thanks to the hard work Andrew put into building his experience with MnDOT, Doran hired him and now Andrew is working at his dream job.
To learn more about Andrew’s journey and how VRS and CareerForce can help people with disabilities find work, view our State of Success video.
