Around the
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Things Happening at PEC!
Some of the presenters from the Pittsburgh Employment Conference have graciously agreed to share summaries of their presentations. This conference is the largest gathering of augmentative communicators in the country and it is always a marquee event. If you couldn’t attend the conference here is a small example of what you missed.
David Chapple
Work and Attendants: A Double-Edged Sword
Dealing with attendants while I am trying to work can be a double-edged sword that I have to keep sharp and handle with care. On one edge, I do need their help; but on the other, there are times I need them to leave me alone so I can get my work done. Obviously, I need them around to fulfill my personal needs such as assistance with the bathroom, drinking, and sometimes even driving me to a meeting. I also need their help sometimes with my work for things as inserting disks, resetting my communication device, and helping me to fix my device over the phone with a technician. However, there are times I would like to be alone such as when I am writing a report or going through a checklist for an assignment. I do love my attendants and they like to talk but they need to realize I need to get things accomplished, and I cannot just talk all day.
Jennifer Lowe
Work and Attendants: A Double-Edged Sword
Managing attendant care, can be, challenging for the augmented communicator & being a part of the work force. That was certainly the case with me. I have grown immensely in, my managing of my attendant care. Admittedly, it was quite challenging, getting to this comfort level. However, like anything, with time & experience, the easier it became. Today, it’s my intent, to provide you with some of my experiences, in order to 1, illustrate how I manage my attendants, &, 2, illustrate, that your challenges aren’t unique, just to you. Everyone experiences certain challenges with their attendants, once in a while. It’s important that you establish a good relationship, with your attendants, when you work because, other people can see your relationship, and it could reflect on your working reputation. In my case, my working reputation, started with establishing a good personal relationship with my attendants.
Beth Anne Luciani
Higher Education Leads to Higher Success
For 10 ½ years, I attended California University of Pennsylvania. On May 7th, I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing! Along my journey, I was ridiculed and even asked why I was going college. It is assumed that people with disabilities can’t or shouldn’t attend college. It was always a dream of mine, and since my disability never comes first in my life, I knew I could do it. Yes, as any average student, I had struggles, but I overcame them and succeeded with my dream. Having a college degree has gotten me far in life. I already have two part-time jobs, and I feel I am more respected by people because of the knowledge I have. Attending college isn’t impossible for a person with a disability. It just takes a lot of patience, time, and determination. College is also a lifetime experience. People learn skills and knowledge that they wouldn’t if they didn’t attend college. If people with disabilities don’t take the chance to further their education, I feel they are missing out on a lot. That diploma holds a world of opportunities. Without attending college, I wouldn’t be the writer and editor I am today. College was a huge dream of mine, and I achieved that dream! My next step is graduate school!
Kate May
Finding a Job
In this economy there has been so many layoffs and thousands of people are without jobs. Our government status really hit home when close friends of mine were laid off. I was thankful that I had a job with the school district because state jobs are usually secure. Back in October, I myself found out that there wasn’t a such thing as having a secure job with a school district. My supervisor was gracious to tell me ahead of time that I would no longer have a job starting in June of 2011.
After letting the dust settle down I knew I had to start networking with people that I had known throughout my life. My presentation will describe the ways I networked with friends and professionals to insure I would have a job. Networking became the name of that game!
Ami Profeta
Life on Life’s Terms: Living as an Augmented Communicator
Good morning, my name is Ami Profeta, from Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. I am working as an Administrative Assistant for AlliedBarton Security Services. I entered all of the new security guards Safety Orientations and On the Job Checklists in to the Database. Also I compile a monthly report for off site visits for the managers at a single site in an Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet.
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