I’d like to take you back in time to March 19th 2006 it’s the day that
March 19th 2006 it’s the day that
March 19th 2006 it’s the day that changed my life forever my family and I
changed my life forever my family and I
changed my life forever my family and I were in Old Kentucky during a dirt bike
were in Old Kentucky during a dirt bike
were in Old Kentucky during a dirt bike race family friends and I did that for
race family friends and I did that for
race family friends and I did that for fun something we did when we were
fun something we did when we were
fun something we did when we were younger when I was 17 years old the last
younger when I was 17 years old the last
younger when I was 17 years old the last thing I remember from that day was being
thing I remember from that day was being
thing I remember from that day was being in a trailer with my brother preparing
in a trailer with my brother preparing
in a trailer with my brother preparing for a race after that time I woke up
for a race after that time I woke up
for a race after that time I woke up about two weeks later I didn’t know what
about two weeks later I didn’t know what
about two weeks later I didn’t know what had happened I suffered a spinal cord
had happened I suffered a spinal cord
had happened I suffered a spinal cord injury and my life changed forever in
injury and my life changed forever in
injury and my life changed forever in that moment in that instant my
that moment in that instant my
that moment in that instant my independence was taken from me that that
independence was taken from me that that
independence was taken from me that that day it was tough I went from being a 17
day it was tough I went from being a 17
day it was tough I went from being a 17 year old boy to it only thought about
year old boy to it only thought about
year old boy to it only thought about really three things in life mostly most
really three things in life mostly most
really three things in life mostly most important things of course my job which
important things of course my job which
important things of course my job which was very important that worked my job so
was very important that worked my job so
was very important that worked my job so that I could make money to put parts on
that I could make money to put parts on
that I could make money to put parts on my truck because trucks are important
my truck because trucks are important
my truck because trucks are important bill I’m very important and I drove my
bill I’m very important and I drove my
bill I’m very important and I drove my truck around with all the pretty girls
truck around with all the pretty girls
truck around with all the pretty girls third most important job truck girls 17
third most important job truck girls 17
third most important job truck girls 17 years old now I will say that not much
years old now I will say that not much
years old now I will say that not much has changed since then
has changed since then
has changed since then I will admit it now looking back on that
I will admit it now looking back on that
I will admit it now looking back on that time and that day things have
time and that day things have
time and that day things have transformed and changed incredibly
transformed and changed incredibly
transformed and changed incredibly luckily for me with the support of my
luckily for me with the support of my
luckily for me with the support of my friends my family my nurses and my
friends my family my nurses and my
friends my family my nurses and my therapist I was able to graduate from
therapist I was able to graduate from
therapist I was able to graduate from high school on time with my classmates I
high school on time with my classmates I
high school on time with my classmates I then moved on to this beautiful campus
then moved on to this beautiful campus
then moved on to this beautiful campus at the University of Southern Indiana
at the University of Southern Indiana
at the University of Southern Indiana and graduated just a few years ago I’d
and graduated just a few years ago I’d
and graduated just a few years ago I’d like to call it the five and a half year
like to call it the five and a half year
like to call it the five and a half year plan
plan
plan I’m sorry parents I know you think a
I’m sorry parents I know you think a
I’m sorry parents I know you think a little bit differently I promise you the
little bit differently I promise you the
little bit differently I promise you the four year plan is only underrated and
four year plan is only underrated and
four year plan is only underrated and over and all the same time what’s
over and all the same time what’s
over and all the same time what’s interesting is that going from a 17 year
interesting is that going from a 17 year
interesting is that going from a 17 year old that knew nothing about disability
old that knew nothing about disability
old that knew nothing about disability being thrust into a very unique position
being thrust into a very unique position
being thrust into a very unique position where again I had to account on someone
where again I had to account on someone
where again I had to account on someone to help with feeding someone to help
to help with feeding someone to help
to help with feeding someone to help with itching my nose someone to help
with itching my nose someone to help
with itching my nose someone to help what’s wiping my I make credible
what’s wiping my I make credible
what’s wiping my I make credible transformation I had the opportunity in
transformation I had the opportunity in
transformation I had the opportunity in 2012 to serve as a national ambassador
2012 to serve as a national ambassador
2012 to serve as a national ambassador for Easter Seals now if you don’t know
for Easter Seals now if you don’t know
for Easter Seals now if you don’t know much about Easter Seals it’s one of the
much about Easter Seals it’s one of the
much about Easter Seals it’s one of the largest not-for-profit organizations in
largest not-for-profit organizations in
largest not-for-profit organizations in the United States that serves people
the United States that serves people
the United States that serves people with disabilities I had the opportunity
with disabilities I had the opportunity
with disabilities I had the opportunity to travel all across the United States
to travel all across the United States
to travel all across the United States and learn about people with disabilities
and learn about people with disabilities
and learn about people with disabilities the challenges they face and learn a lot
the challenges they face and learn a lot
the challenges they face and learn a lot about myself really opened up my world
about myself really opened up my world
about myself really opened up my world to disability and people in general I
to disability and people in general I
to disability and people in general I had a great impact on me so when I
had a great impact on me so when I
had a great impact on me so when I graduated from USI five-and-a-half okay
graduated from USI five-and-a-half okay
graduated from USI five-and-a-half okay maybe it was six years all right
maybe it was six years all right
maybe it was six years all right oh hold it against me when I graduated
oh hold it against me when I graduated
oh hold it against me when I graduated from USI and ready to jump into the
from USI and ready to jump into the
from USI and ready to jump into the employment world when I met with with a
employment world when I met with with a
employment world when I met with with a few local executives around our
few local executives around our
few local executives around our community
community
community one of the things that I repeated in our
one of the things that I repeated in our
one of the things that I repeated in our ongoing talks in our exploratory
ongoing talks in our exploratory
ongoing talks in our exploratory interviews was my passion about
interviews was my passion about
interviews was my passion about disability well lucky for me somehow
disability well lucky for me somehow
disability well lucky for me somehow someway that led to a position with
someway that led to a position with
someway that led to a position with local company called old National Bank
local company called old National Bank
local company called old National Bank and I’ve been with old old national for
and I’ve been with old old national for
and I’ve been with old old national for three years now my position is to help
three years now my position is to help
three years now my position is to help our company do a better job of including
our company do a better job of including
our company do a better job of including people with disabilities and our
people with disabilities and our
people with disabilities and our workforce now when I got the offer after
workforce now when I got the offer after
workforce now when I got the offer after graduating from USI with a degree in PR
graduating from USI with a degree in PR
graduating from USI with a degree in PR and advertising thinking that I wanted
and advertising thinking that I wanted
and advertising thinking that I wanted to go into ports management I thought
to go into ports management I thought
to go into ports management I thought I’d Bank on me I don’t even trust myself
I’d Bank on me I don’t even trust myself
I’d Bank on me I don’t even trust myself with a credit card this is bad news my
with a credit card this is bad news my
with a credit card this is bad news my parents sure as heck don’t trust me with
parents sure as heck don’t trust me with
parents sure as heck don’t trust me with a credit card mom please don’t okay
having the opportunity old national to
having the opportunity old national to lead employment function where we’re
lead employment function where we’re
lead employment function where we’re working with people with disabilities
working with people with disabilities
working with people with disabilities has been incredible one thing I didn’t
has been incredible one thing I didn’t
has been incredible one thing I didn’t know I’d like to share with you today 60
know I’d like to share with you today 60
know I’d like to share with you today 60 million Americans are affected by
million Americans are affected by
million Americans are affected by disability 200,000 Hoosiers our own
disability 200,000 Hoosiers our own
disability 200,000 Hoosiers our own state are affected by disability one in
state are affected by disability one in
state are affected by disability one in five people in the world 1 billion
five people in the world 1 billion
five people in the world 1 billion people are affected by disability
people are affected by disability
people are affected by disability disability is not you disability is not
disability is not you disability is not
disability is not you disability is not me
me
me disability is us so taking that into
disability is us so taking that into
disability is us so taking that into consideration with my new job with old
consideration with my new job with old
consideration with my new job with old National Bank how do we do a better job
National Bank how do we do a better job
National Bank how do we do a better job of including people in the workforce
of including people in the workforce
of including people in the workforce because realizing that there’s this
because realizing that there’s this
because realizing that there’s this incredible population of people out
incredible population of people out
incredible population of people out there that just so happens to be one of
there that just so happens to be one of
there that just so happens to be one of the most underemployed populations in
the most underemployed populations in
the most underemployed populations in the world people with disabilities make
the world people with disabilities make
the world people with disabilities make up the largest manoa
up the largest manoa
up the largest manoa that are underemployed in the world so
that are underemployed in the world so
that are underemployed in the world so as an organization what do we do how do
as an organization what do we do how do
as an organization what do we do how do we accomplish this how do we bring
we accomplish this how do we bring
we accomplish this how do we bring people these problem solvers these
people these problem solvers these
people these problem solvers these people that are you these people that
people that are you these people that
people that are you these people that are mean these people that are our
are mean these people that are our
are mean these people that are our family members how do we bring them
family members how do we bring them
family members how do we bring them aboard our company our lives and our
aboard our company our lives and our
aboard our company our lives and our community and why haven’t they been
community and why haven’t they been
community and why haven’t they been apart let me provide a couple examples
apart let me provide a couple examples
apart let me provide a couple examples for you so Evelyn Evelyn has an anxiety
for you so Evelyn Evelyn has an anxiety
for you so Evelyn Evelyn has an anxiety disorder she is a very very talented
disorder she is a very very talented
disorder she is a very very talented individual she has tremendous skills so
individual she has tremendous skills so
individual she has tremendous skills so Evelyn came to old national for a job
Evelyn came to old national for a job
Evelyn came to old national for a job interview
interview
interview about a year before we began our
about a year before we began our
about a year before we began our initiatives our inclusion initiatives
initiatives our inclusion initiatives
initiatives our inclusion initiatives now with her anxiety sometimes she had
now with her anxiety sometimes she had
now with her anxiety sometimes she had trouble answering a direct question
trouble answering a direct question
trouble answering a direct question right away because she was
right away because she was
right away because she was self-conscious of it about some of the
self-conscious of it about some of the
self-conscious of it about some of the things that she would say right all of
things that she would say right all of
things that she would say right all of us have trouble with that thinking twice
us have trouble with that thinking twice
us have trouble with that thinking twice about what we say and in an interview do
about what we say and in an interview do
about what we say and in an interview do you thought three times about what she
you thought three times about what she
you thought three times about what she was going to say so sometimes you think
was going to say so sometimes you think
was going to say so sometimes you think about a recruiter that spends six
about a recruiter that spends six
about a recruiter that spends six seconds looking at your resume
seconds looking at your resume
seconds looking at your resume two minutes interviewing a person now if
two minutes interviewing a person now if
two minutes interviewing a person now if you don’t right away answer that
you don’t right away answer that
you don’t right away answer that question you’re out of the pile right
question you’re out of the pile right
question you’re out of the pile right unfortunately we missed out on Evelyn
unfortunately we missed out on Evelyn
unfortunately we missed out on Evelyn now we circle back with with Evelyn a
now we circle back with with Evelyn a
now we circle back with with Evelyn a year later after we began our
year later after we began our
year later after we began our initiatives
initiatives
initiatives Evelyn sat down she had a folder with
Evelyn sat down she had a folder with
Evelyn sat down she had a folder with all of her test scores that said she was
all of her test scores that said she was
all of her test scores that said she was an incredible candidate for this
an incredible candidate for this
an incredible candidate for this position which was in an input position
position which was in an input position
position which was in an input position it told us that she was really great
it told us that she was really great
it told us that she was really great at the job that she wanted to do yet
at the job that she wanted to do yet
at the job that she wanted to do yet sometimes she didn’t have the answers
sometimes she didn’t have the answers
sometimes she didn’t have the answers right away with our normal questions so
right away with our normal questions so
right away with our normal questions so we took this great risk and we hired her
Evelyn has now been with all national
Evelyn has now been with all national for three years she is one of our
for three years she is one of our
for three years she is one of our highest performing input operators and
highest performing input operators and
highest performing input operators and she’s one of the most outgoing people
she’s one of the most outgoing people
she’s one of the most outgoing people and our operations department we had in
and our operations department we had in
and our operations department we had in our minds we thought just because Evelyn
our minds we thought just because Evelyn
our minds we thought just because Evelyn couldn’t answer those questions right
couldn’t answer those questions right
couldn’t answer those questions right away at normal interview process we
away at normal interview process we
away at normal interview process we excluded her we learned a lesson let me
excluded her we learned a lesson let me
excluded her we learned a lesson let me tell you about risk and Madeline Chris
tell you about risk and Madeline Chris
tell you about risk and Madeline Chris is our CFO and Madeline is or was a
is our CFO and Madeline is or was a
is our CFO and Madeline is or was a student at the University of Southern
student at the University of Southern
student at the University of Southern Indiana
Madeline happens to be a double major in
Madeline happens to be a double major in finance and accounting
finance and accounting
finance and accounting he’s also blind now I introduced Chris
he’s also blind now I introduced Chris
he’s also blind now I introduced Chris and Madeline or mentorship be friends
and Madeline or mentorship be friends
and Madeline or mentorship be friends and to learn from each other and to grow
and to learn from each other and to grow
and to learn from each other and to grow and Chris came to me it was very stunned
and Chris came to me it was very stunned
and Chris came to me it was very stunned II he thought how in the world is
II he thought how in the world is
II he thought how in the world is Madeline going to be an accountant how
Madeline going to be an accountant how
Madeline going to be an accountant how can she solved these mathematical
can she solved these mathematical
can she solved these mathematical problems if she can’t see well Chris
problems if she can’t see well Chris
problems if she can’t see well Chris quickly realized the Madeleine had been
quickly realized the Madeleine had been
quickly realized the Madeleine had been dealing with her disability or
dealing with her disability or
dealing with her disability or impairment since she was 13 years old
impairment since she was 13 years old
impairment since she was 13 years old Chris toka that back and said Madeline
Chris toka that back and said Madeline
Chris toka that back and said Madeline is is completing a degree at the
is is completing a degree at the
is is completing a degree at the University of Evansville Chris then
University of Evansville Chris then
University of Evansville Chris then realized after speaking with Madeline
realized after speaking with Madeline
realized after speaking with Madeline that there were all kinds of assistive
that there were all kinds of assistive
that there were all kinds of assistive technology solutions that helped her
technology solutions that helped her
technology solutions that helped her read enough to be successful even more
read enough to be successful even more
read enough to be successful even more than anyone could ever expect Madeline
than anyone could ever expect Madeline
than anyone could ever expect Madeline Chris found found out had just returned
Chris found found out had just returned
Chris found found out had just returned from traveling to 15 different countries
from traveling to 15 different countries
from traveling to 15 different countries in Europe five of them by herself now I
in Europe five of them by herself now I
in Europe five of them by herself now I don’t know about you guys but
I had trouble finding us i travelling
I had trouble finding us i travelling from the east side to the west side so
from the east side to the west side so
from the east side to the west side so risk finding out that madeleine was able
risk finding out that madeleine was able
risk finding out that madeleine was able to navigate different countries by
to navigate different countries by
to navigate different countries by herself independently helped him realize
herself independently helped him realize
herself independently helped him realize that we as people make assumptions about
that we as people make assumptions about
that we as people make assumptions about the barriers that people with
the barriers that people with
the barriers that people with disabilities or all of us face but the
disabilities or all of us face but the
disabilities or all of us face but the assumptions that we as people make
assumptions that we as people make
assumptions that we as people make now those those two examples i hope will
now those those two examples i hope will
now those those two examples i hope will make you think about some of the
make you think about some of the
make you think about some of the assumptions that we make because as an
assumptions that we make because as an
assumptions that we make because as an organization they’ve done an incredible
organization they’ve done an incredible
organization they’ve done an incredible job transforming the way that we think
job transforming the way that we think
job transforming the way that we think now what’s even more interesting is that
now what’s even more interesting is that
now what’s even more interesting is that we’ve found this great talent of people
we’ve found this great talent of people
we’ve found this great talent of people that have been excluded from the
that have been excluded from the
that have been excluded from the workforce these great individuals a
workforce these great individuals a
workforce these great individuals a significant population and while doing
significant population and while doing
significant population and while doing so I’m receiving messages emails
so I’m receiving messages emails
so I’m receiving messages emails voicemails from all throughout old
voicemails from all throughout old
voicemails from all throughout old Nationals five-state footprint people
Nationals five-state footprint people
Nationals five-state footprint people that want to help people that want to be
that want to help people that want to be
that want to help people that want to be a part of our initiatives because
a part of our initiatives because
a part of our initiatives because someone in their life has faced a
someone in their life has faced a
someone in their life has faced a disability someone in their life has
disability someone in their life has
disability someone in their life has been affected and they understand the
been affected and they understand the
been affected and they understand the importance of our hiring initiatives
importance of our hiring initiatives
importance of our hiring initiatives so now have we found a skilled and
so now have we found a skilled and
so now have we found a skilled and talented labor force but the culture of
talented labor force but the culture of
talented labor force but the culture of our company has been transformed the
our company has been transformed the
our company has been transformed the passion has transformed let me leave you
passion has transformed let me leave you
passion has transformed let me leave you with one last example they think about
with one last example they think about
with one last example they think about me just think about me for a moment
me just think about me for a moment
me just think about me for a moment they’ll be creepy
they’ll be creepy
they’ll be creepy then why are you laughing about that so
then why are you laughing about that so
then why are you laughing about that so when I went been with a disability
when I went been with a disability
when I went been with a disability thinks about going to a friend’s house
thinks about going to a friend’s house
thinks about going to a friend’s house it’s about going to a restaurant I have
it’s about going to a restaurant I have
it’s about going to a restaurant I have to consider is there going to be enough
to consider is there going to be enough
to consider is there going to be enough space for my ramp to fold down are the
space for my ramp to fold down are the
space for my ramp to fold down are the doors wide enough for me to get in or
doors wide enough for me to get in or
doors wide enough for me to get in or the countertops or the tables tall
the countertops or the tables tall
the countertops or the tables tall enough is there an elevator to where I
enough is there an elevator to where I
enough is there an elevator to where I need to go now if you think about that
need to go now if you think about that
need to go now if you think about that those questions that individuals with
those questions that individuals with
those questions that individuals with disabilities have to think about before
disabilities have to think about before
disabilities have to think about before they even go out I’m pretty sure what we
they even go out I’m pretty sure what we
they even go out I’m pretty sure what we call people like that are problem
call people like that are problem
call people like that are problem solvers its losses significant
solvers its losses significant
solvers its losses significant significant amount of people out there
significant amount of people out there
significant amount of people out there that because of some of the assumptions
that because of some of the assumptions
that because of some of the assumptions that we make as people have not been
that we make as people have not been
that we make as people have not been included in the workforce yet with
included in the workforce yet with
included in the workforce yet with thinking a little differently stepping
thinking a little differently stepping
thinking a little differently stepping back and adding some passions some love
back and adding some passions some love
back and adding some passions some love and some compassion we’re able to
and some compassion we’re able to
and some compassion we’re able to transform our work force our minds and
transform our work force our minds and
transform our work force our minds and our culture so I encourage you I’ll
our culture so I encourage you I’ll
our culture so I encourage you I’ll leave here today to think a little bit
leave here today to think a little bit
leave here today to think a little bit differently about the assumptions that
differently about the assumptions that
differently about the assumptions that we make as people about other people and
we make as people about other people and
we make as people about other people and in the spirit of the tagline of our talk
in the spirit of the tagline of our talk
in the spirit of the tagline of our talk here today grow I encourage you
here today grow I encourage you
here today grow I encourage you entrepreneurs business owners to grow
entrepreneurs business owners to grow
entrepreneurs business owners to grow grow your workforce grow your compassion
grow your workforce grow your compassion
grow your workforce grow your compassion and grow your culture I promise you you
and grow your culture I promise you you
and grow your culture I promise you you won’t regret it
won’t regret it
won’t regret it thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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