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CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine, established in 1986, is the nation's first and only career-guidance and recruitment magazine for people with disabilities who are at undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels. Each issue features a special Braille section.

CAREERS & the disABLED has won many awards, including several media "Award of Excellence" acknowledgments from the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.

This magazine reaches people with disabilities nationwide at their home addresses, colleges and universities, and chapters of student and professional organizations through a paid subscription.


CAREERS & the disABLED

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 More Than Creating Medicine 

Barbara Woodworth 
 
The Pharmaceutical Industry Cares For Employees With Disabilities.
 
ALONG WITH EVOLVING MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE INDUSTRIES, THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY EVOLVES AS WELL. NEW MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS ARE IN THE MARKETPLACE-AND IN THE PIPELINES. GENERIC DRUGS ARE INCREASINGLY PRESCRIBED AND ACCEPTED; AND TODAY THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IS ON TRACK TO MAKE AVAILABLE MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES; MANY OF WHICH COULD GO TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
 
Eli Lilly and Company: Leveraging the talents of Its Employees
 
AT 100+ YEAR-OLD ELI LILLY AND COMPANY (WWW.LILLY.COM) TWO TIME-HONORED MANDATES REMAIN. THE COMPANY IS ABOUT MORE THAN CREATING MEDICINE. DIVERSITY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. ACCORDING TO JANICE CHAVERS, DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND HR COMMUNICATIONS, “THAT IS AT THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE VALUE, AND WHO WE SERVE. FURTHERMORE, WHEN IT COMES TO DISABILITIES, COMMITMENT EXTENDS BEYOND COMPANY WALLS.” IN-HOUSE A WORKPLACE ADJUSTMENT COORDINATOR WORKS WITH EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES TO IDENTIFY POSSIBLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO FACILITATE GREATER EASE WHEN PERFORMING JOB FUNCTIONS. WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, EMPLOYEES AT LILLY ARE LONG-TERM PARTNERS WITH THE INDIANA CANINE ASSISTANT NETWORK (ICAN), HELPING TO TRAIN DOGS TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH MOBILITY ISSUES, DIABETES AND AUTISM.
 
Ranked one of the world’s best companies to work for, Indianapolis, IN-headquartered Lilly has been honored numerous times for its commitment to diversity. Named for the third consecutive year to DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity,” Lilly aspires to fully leverage the talents of nearly 40,000 worldwide employees-17,000 in the U.S.-to operate within an increasingly diverse marketplace. “Senior leaders meet diversity performance objectives and the company works to provide an environment and facilities that meet the needs of all employees and in which all persons feel comfortable,” says Chavers.
 
Today Lilly’s ten employee resource groups support business objectives, connect people from diverse backgrounds, and boast a membership of 10,000. “Helping employees better understand the needs of individuals who are unique helps the company create a better understanding of patients,” states Chavers. The Working and Living With Disabilities (WLD) resource group promotes awareness and endeavors to achieve a better understanding of the capabilities and talents of individuals who are faced with various physical challenges. “It also provides opportunities for the company and colleagues to better understand the challenges such individuals overcome and how that level of perseverance applies to their abilities,” adds Chavers.
 
Megan Fogarty knows a lot about perseverance. Throughout her 12 years at Lilly, as well as during her prior jobs, she dealt with several painful autoimmune diseases, including fibromyalgia, arthritis, and rheumatism. Excessive daytime sleepiness affects her as well and still she perseveres. A graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s of science degree in management, a bachelor’s of arts degree in communications, and an MBA from the University of Colorado, Fogarty successfully held a number of positions and advanced professionally. In August of 2013, she assumed her current role as HR consultant.
 
With a disability that could be classified as “invisible,” Fogarty says, “My condition impacts the way I live and what I experience each day.” She describes her sensitivity as “having the worst bruises covering my entire body.” For Fogarty that makes it difficult for her to write, tie her shoes, carry her laptop computer, and drive. However, she emphasizes, “My condition does not impact my ability to do my work because I’ve had the great fortunate to work for leaders who are understanding, compassionate, and flexible.”
 
Recruited to Lilly by a headhunter, Fogarty recalls falling in love with the company. “I immediately liked the people and the work environment,” she remembers-an opinion that never wavers. As a member of the HR corporate team charged with changing the performance management process, she sees the pharmaceutical industry from both a professional and personal point of view. “The industry is exciting because of its potential to do good and challenging because of U.S. and worldwide healthcare regulations. The key to the future as an employee and a patient is innovation,” she stresses. “New ways must be discovered to treat more unmet medical needs.”
 
Among the skills Fogarty identifies as necessary are good judgment, integrity, ability to listen, and capability as a strategic/ critical thinker and problem-solver. She most enjoys taking a chaotic or nebulous situation and organizing it saying, “I like being part of something that significantly impacts people and working with the highly intelligent people that Lilly is committed to hiring.”
 
A member of the Society of Human Resource Managers, Fogarty works with the United Way of Central Indiana as a Read Up Tutor, a campaign torchbearer, and an agency auditor. In 2012, she conducted a well-received autoimmune disorders training program for managers in Lilly’s manufacturing area. Since then, she has delivered presentations at various staff meetings to educate more employees about these conditions. The highlight of one session was having one of her peers apologize for not realizing the many issues she has to deal with. “This became a teachable moment,” concludes Fogarth. “I live with a disability and work with a disability. That’s what I do and that’s no different from anybody else on my team.”
 
CVS Caremark: Offering Innovative accommodations
 
WITH A 30-YEAR CAREER IN THE REHABILITATION FIELD WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH A VARIETY OF DISABILITIES, MARSHA LYNCH IS NOW MANAGER, WORKFORCE INITIATIVES AT WOONSOCKET, RI-HEADQUARTERED CVS CAREMARK (WWW.CVSCAREMARK.COM). SERVING AS LIAISON BETWEEN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND CVS CAREMARK BUSINESS UNITS, SHE WORKS TO LINK PEOPLE-MANY WITH DISABILITIES- TO TRAINING AND JOBS. “ONE REASON I LOVE WORKING HERE IS THAT THE COMPANY BELIEVES IN THE UNIQUE VALUE EACH INDIVIDUAL BRINGS TO THE JOB. MANY PEOPLE FROM MANY BACKGROUNDS WORK HERE BUT THERE IS NO RIGID WAY OF LOOKING AT JOB FUNCTIONS; AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES,” SHE STATES.
 
As a pharmacy innovation company that em - braces differences, CVS Caremark works to reinvent pharmacy care. “Doing so takes creative people, and people with disabilities are accustomed to finding creative ways to accomplish things,” explains Lynch. In addition to keeping within the tenets of the Americans with Disabilities Act, CVS Caremark goes a mega step beyond. As a creative, flexible employer, the company strives to make the job work for employees with disabilities. Accommodations take many forms and are based on a case-by-case basis. Modified schedules, including shorter shifts or fewer work days when needed, are possible. In some cases, non-essential job elements are carried out by colleagues.
 
CVS Caremark also works with agency partners to assess and develop creative ways to offer innovative accommodations based on need. Solutions are tailored to specific individuals and are in tended to help each person thrive. “I am always impressed with the level of willingness on the part of the company to help those with disabilities have fulfilling careers,” declares Lynch. In addition to working with various state, local, and community groups, workforce initiative team members sit on numerous Business Advisory Councils and sponsor job shadowing and mentoring events. This year employees formed Abilities a Colleague Resource Group focused on heightening awareness and educating co-workers on matters related to disabilities.
 
James Pitts is proof positive of that effort. Although he is a certified mechanic, he found it difficult to find full-time work as a person with a hearing impairment. What led him to CVS Caremark, in fact, was his wife who heard about the company and encouraged him to apply. Says Pitts, “I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was hired.”
 
That was eight years ago and since then he has thoroughly enjoyed his work as a “chaser” in the central distribution facility. Pitts explains, “I help replenish depleted stock ensuring that merchandise is shipped to company locations throughout the U.S. so that orders are filled accurately and rapidly.”
 
Because his job requires him to focus and work productively in a fast-paced environment, Pitts finds it a good fit. “Not only do I like to keep busy, I’m thankful that the company enabled me to realize my full professional potential. My job keeps me on my toes and affords me considerable pride in what I do,” he comments.
 
Of his involvement in a deaf peer group, where he serves as treasurer, Pitts notes, “This activity is both a great social outlet and a vehicle to keep my budgeting skills sharp.” A married dad of three, grandfather of three, and a surrogate father, Pitts, along with his wife, cares for his military daughter’s children while she is deployed. Twice recognized some years ago as the best worker with a disability, he recalls winning $1,000 and placing second in a baking contest.
 
Express Scripts Inc.: Diversity & Inclusion An Integral Philosophy
 
AS SENIOR DIRECTOR, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION OFFICER AT EXPRESS SCRIPTS INC. (WWW.EXPRESSSCRIPTS. COM) IN ST. LOUIS, MO, SUSAN STITH COMES TO THIS 30,000+ EMPLOYEE COMPANY WITH SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE DEVELOPING STRATEGY, IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS, AND RETAINING A DIVERSE TALENT PIPELINE ANDWORKFORCE–ALL OF WHICH SHE CONTINUES TODAY. SHAPING AND STEERING THE COMPANY’S ENTERPRISE-WIDE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STRATEGY, FORMULATING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, PRO - CESSES AND PROCEDURES, MAINTAINING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE, AND LEADING THE DIVERSITY ADVISORY BOARD, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL AND EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS FALL WITHIN HER RESPONSIBILITIES.
 
With diversity and inclusion an integral part of Express Way Values, Stith, recently named one of the “Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity in the U.S.” by DiversityPlus Magazine, says, “Our workforce is extremely diverse on many levels, including people with disabilities. The company operates under the process of continuous improvement and has made significant strides, with more to come. For the first time this October it will celebrate National Diversity Awareness Month.”
 
According to Stith, employment and advancement decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, compliance with company expectations and policies, job performance, and abilities. “Express Scripts does not discriminate in any manner. For people with disabilities, the company makes reasonable accommodations in accordance with the law for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in undue hardship,” she states.
 
Jillian Nelson, resolution team lead, has been with the company for four years and speaks first-hand about the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, an Autism Spectrum Disorder, she mentions her initial struggle with workplace relationships and interviewing due to weakness in social skills. Now, having overcome these hardships, she acknowledges that she still has to work around the fact that she does not drive. Drawn to Express Scripts because of its reputation for being an amazing company that facilitates employee growth and embraces diversity and philanthropy, Nelson, who earned an associate’s degree in human services and works on a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, says, “Despite not having a background in the pharmaceutical sector, I soon found this was a company that would allow me to help people and gain more balance in my personal life.”
 
Currently assisting patient care advocates and resolving escalated patient issues, Nelson must be ready to embrace change at every turn. “As an individual on the Autism spectrum, I learn and retain knowledge very quickly but I must always be aware of the need for patience and empathy,” she reports. Her advice for people with disabilities is, “Never sell yourself short. To succeed you must think outside the box. Instead of ‘I can’t do it’ ask ‘how can I do it’.” Despite a disability that heavily impairs social skills, succeeds in a highly social position. To get here she focused on her strengths, asked for help, sought mentors, and demonstrated that she was an asset to the company. “This, in turn, helped me overcome my deficits, resulting in a successful two-way exchange,” she adds.
 
Citing many opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, Nelson believes Express Scripts has a unique challenge as a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) to provide service and lower healthcare costs by encouraging better therapeutic compliance and creating best practices for managing pharmacy benefits. “To successfully integrate reform, create change, and commit to patients and society, there is a need for employees with many different skills,” notes Nelson.
 
“Too many people think the pharmaceutical industry is one small niche but it takes individuals with a plethora of abilities to make companies flourish. In a family like Express Scripts there is a place for everyone’s talents.”
 
One hundred percent open and upfront about her disability, Nelson remarks, “To move forward and inspire change, I am committed to break stereotypes and demonstrate what individuals with disabilities are capable of achieving. As an individual who is ‘different’ but who comes with a unique perspective and set of strengths, I am confident that as a society we will continue to move forward with pride and determination.”
 
Recently featured on the company blog, Nelson was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. “Watching everyone come together to learn and understand more about this disorder was breathtaking,” concludes Nelson. “Together is how things are done at Express Scripts. Together we are better–and that’s the best part of my job.”
 
Bayer Corporation: Applying Science To Significant Global Challenges
 
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER WITH A CORPORATE CULTURE THAT IS CENTRAL TO ITS SUCCESS, BAYER CORPORATION’S LIFE VALUES–LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, FLEXIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY–UNDERSCORE THE COMPANY’S EFFORTS TO SEEK INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MANY OF TODAY’S MAJOR HEALTHCARE, MEDICAL, AND PHARMACEUTICAL CHALLENGES. AS AN INVENTOR COMPANY, WITH A LONG HISTORY OF RESEARCH AND APPLYING SCIENCE TO SIGNIFICANT GLOBAL CHALLENGES, BAYER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO BENEFIT PEOPLE AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
 
With a goal of discovering products to improve human health, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals (www.bayer.com), located in Whippany, NJ, endeavors to achieve that goal through the diagnosis, prevention and ultimate treatment of diseases. The U.S.-based pharmaceutical operation of Bayer HealthCare-a division of Bayer AG–is one of the world’s leading healthcare innovative companies. The discoverer of Aspirin, Bayer Healthcare now includes women’s healthcare, diagnostic imaging, general medicine, hematology, neurology, and oncology among its units.
 
According to Dr. Sharyn Jones, vice president, talent management, U.S. Bayer Corporation, “By sustaining the company’s role as a societally and ethically responsible corporate citizen, Bayer maintains a workplace that honors and engages inclusivity.”
 
Employees collectively manage their individual talents within a working environment that respects and values differences while adhering to the principles of social and ethical responsibility. Employee resource groups (ERG) are just one source of diversity-related initiatives inherent in the company’s workplace environment. “Bayer strives to hire and retain the best and most talented people and assures that its workforce of 12,000 represents all persons, including people with disabilities,” states Jones.
 
With bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and an additional master’s degree and EdD from Bowling Green State University, Jones completed a postgraduate clinical fellowship at Yale University. Prior to joining Bayer, she held various leadership roles. Today, her talent management position supports Bayer’s U.S. businesses to identify, attract, develop, and retain the right talent to meet industry and company changing needs. According to Jones, the fact that Bayer employees play an important role to drive the company’s growth, and that individual perspectives are valued and respected, it is essential that a high level of commitment to diversity and inclusion be paramount and evident. “Diversity and inclusion are key components of Bayer’s corporate culture and values,” she emphasizes.
 
Jones further draws attention to the inclusivity of employees with disabilities. Mentioning the company’s willingness to provide reasonable accommodations according to need, she cites a recent example that involved enlarging a sight-impaired employee’s workstation to accommodate his service dog as well as installing magnified/speech software and a scanner with optical character recognition to translate materials as just one example. 
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