Caldwell Students Inspired to Dream Big despite Disabilities

Caldwell College students were invited to the Novartis pharmaceutical company in East Hanover, NJ for a special National Disability Mentoring Day event on October 20, 2010. David Acosta, Bryan Autore, William Buckley, Tara Carty, Ashley Miele, Maia White and Karen Wilson were among fifty college and high school students who were given an insider’s look into the pharmaceutical field, through the eyes of the company’s scientists, medical directors and business professionals, many of whom are disabled themselves.

Josh Sundquist, a motivational speaker and 25-year-old amputee, also spoke to the students and encouraged them to look beyond their disabilities and pursue their dream careers. “The speaker was very inspirational,” said Ashley Miele. “He doesn’t let his disability stop him.”

Karen Wilson was equally inspired. “Despite having a disability, I can still find a job and get the help that I need,” she concluded. “It was nice spending the day with others you can relate to.”

The students watched chemistry experiments and learned about careers in publishing, laboratories, engineering, and administrative areas. They were also counseled on interviewing techniques and advised on practical ways to achieve their goals.

“It really was a very interesting day,” said William Buckley. “I am a Computer Information Systems major, and they use a lot of new technology.”

Disability Mentoring Day is an international event held each year on the third Wednesday of October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The event was started by the White House in 1999 to promote career development and make employers aware of this qualified pool of candidates. It is now hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The event has grown to include over 9,000 mentees and 2,500 employer mentors across every state.