Disability Employment Spotlight: Tim Moore

About Tim & his insight on disability employment: 

City & State of Employment: Frankfort, Kentucky

Employer: Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities

Position: Front Desk Manager

Length of time in at current workplace: 10 years soon to be 11 years on November 2nd

What is the best advice you can share about finding a job?

The best advice that I can provide when it comes to seeking employment is to network, build a solid resume' with any past work experience or, any other past accomplishments such as your GPA, in order to present a good product (which will be your story) to potential employers. I also recommend trying new avenues of employment such as supported employment or customized employment that way, if you can't find a job via traditional methods the options will always be open and available to you to use. I also strongly recommend references for job applications as well as a good cover letter because you only have one chance to make a good first impression. Lastly, I would like to say don't give up on your dreams. You might not start out in the field that you want but, each job that you have can be used as a step closer to your dreams.

What makes you a good employee?

I am punctual, hard-working, flexible, loyal, dedicated, open-minded when it comes to new tasks, not afraid of change, open to new things, a good people person, have excellent, communication skills, am articulate and, I always do the task that is given to me with a smile on my face.

Why do you think it is important to hire people who have a disability?

I believe that it is important to hire people who have a disability because it opens up the potential employer for new business opportunities and it creates jobs for a group of potential employees that otherwise might be made to work in sheltered employment. I believe that by hiring people with disabilities, you give them opportunities to experience real jobs for real wages and you also give them the opportunity to develop personally and professionally by allowing them the opportunity to work in competitive integrated employment alongside their typically developing peers.

What can employers do to make jobs more accessible for people who have disabilities?

One thing that I believe that employers can do in order to make jobs accessible for people with disabilities is to embrace multiple forms of employment be it either supported or customized employment. This would provide the employer the opportunity to have a diverse workforce and it would also allow employees with disabilities to demonstrate their diverse skillsets for the employers that are willing to embrace the two forms of employment that I mentioned above.

What can we do in Kentucky to help people with disabilities find jobs?

One thing that could be done in Kentucky in order to help people with disabilities find jobs is to educate employers about different forms of employment such as supported employment and customized employment. Another thing that could be done is to make job fairs accessible for people with disabilities so that they can present their resume' and get their name out there for potential hiring.

How has working improved your quality of life?

Working has improved my quality of life in a variety of ways prior to discovering customized employment which leads me to my current position, I was unable to support myself or my family. When I began working at my current position in November of 2009, it allowed me for the first time in my life to be able to independently support myself as well as my family in a variety of ways.

Would you like to be featured? Calling for employed self-advocates!

Would you like to be in Kentucky’s “Employment Spotlight”? This October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. We would like to spotlight the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation’s economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensuring equal opportunity for all citizens.

Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities is proud to support National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Held each October, NDEAM aims to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. Throughout the month, we’ll be highlighting stories about Kentuckians with disabilities and their employment.  These stories show that people with disabilities are reliable employees who play a significant role in fostering a disability-friendly work culture. If you would like to participate – please fill out the form below or at https://forms.gle/4BExtdZvxWdpzbseA

Click Here to Fill Out Form

*By submitting information you hereby consent to and give permission to the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities, including its employees and agents, to use your still image, photograph and/or video.  You understand that you will not be paid or receive any other form of compensation.  You also understand that my image may be used in print or digital publications, promotional materials, and/or on the internet. You release the Commonwealth Council on Developmental Disabilities and/or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, any affiliates and the photographer/videographer, for the violation of any personal or proprietary right you may have in connection with such use.  You hereby acknowledge that you have read and understood the terms of this release.

Questions? Contact -  Paige Harder - [email protected]