Ray Whittington (r) of Automotive Collision Technologies (ACT) supervised Dmitri during his summer job.
When a disability employment specialist dropped into Automotive Collision Technologies, Inc. and inquired about a summer job for 19-year Dmitri S., manager Matt Alexander was willing to consider. Dmitri, after all, already had a certificate in auto body repair from Carroll County Career & Technology Center and was eager to learn more. “When I started out, someone gave me a chance,” says Matt.
As it turned out, Dmitri was an ideal summer employee. “Dmitri has more drive than I’ve seen in anybody for years,” said Matt, who added that his attention to detail is important in an industry such as automotive repair.
By the end of the summer, ACT realized that they found someone with career potential. They hired Dmitri as a permanent employee. They plan on teaching him more auto body repair skills in the coming years.
It is good for the industry as a whole when an auto body shop finds someone with the potential (and passion) for the job, says Matt, who predicts a drop in auto body mechanics as many experienced workers retire.
Job Supports for Employers and Employees
Dmitri honed his auto body repair skills with the help of an assigned co-worker, Ray Whittington. A job coach from a local community agency stopped by frequently to make sure his hearing loss did not interfere with his ability to follow instructions and learn the job. ACT saw career potential in their summer employee. “He’s non-stop. If we didn’t have a car to work on, he offered to clean the bathrooms or sweep the floors," said ACT's manager.
Although ACT has provided internships and jobs for students from the local Vocational High School, this was their first experience with agencies who support employment for people with disabilities.
His new employers say that Dmitri is now part of the group.
He admits that some employers may not understand the nature of disabilities, especially hearing disabilities such as Dmitri’s. “Unfortunately, when many people would see Dmitri walk in and fill out an application, I can tell you that 9 out of ten people would think twice about hiring him. But we look at it differently. He’s part of our team now.”
Dmitri was one of 32 Westminster area students with significant disabilities who participated in the Summer Youth Employment Program, which matches students with disabilities to jobs in their communities, at no cost to employers. (Their wages were paid for either by a Department of Education grant or funds from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.) To make the program easier for employers to manage, Carroll County Public Schools, DORS and the local Workforce agency pre-screened applicants, provided job coaching when needed and checked in with employers throughout the summer.
Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)
2301 Argonne Drive
410-554-9385; Toll-free: 888-554-0334