Navigating the Disability Employment Maze with a Rockstar Mother and Son Team Artwork

The Arc Experience Podcast

The Arc Wisconsin - with support from the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities - is launching The Arc Experience Podcast. In this monthly feature you’ll hear from people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their allies across the state – talking about their lives and the issues they think are important.This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001WISCDD-00, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

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The Arc Experience Podcast

Navigating the Disability Employment Maze with a Rockstar Mother and Son Team

April 14, 2021 • Lisa Pugh with Mary and Sam Dess • Season 1 • Episode 24

When businesses want to hire people with disabilities, a lot of things can get in the way: from building accessibility and workplace accommodations to understanding disability benefits and how to work with outside providers like the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), IRIS or Family Care. Today’s podcast guests know all about these obstacles, both from inside the business and out. This episode features the mother and son team, Mary and Sam Dess! Mary is a consultant at Northwestern Mutual, one of Wisconsin’s largest employers. Mary helped to found Northwestern Mutual’s Disability Alliance Employee Resource Group and is watching them increase their hiring of people with disabilities. Mary’s efforts are informed by her experiences alongside her son Sam, who is successfully employed and working on big career goals. Sam also has some great advice to share in this episode!

Thank You to Old National Bank
This podcast episode has been brought to you by Old National Bank - a Leading Disability Employer.

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