Triumph in Troubling Times – Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

Lavette is a friendly, conscientious, intelligent, and articulate woman with talents for organization and leadership. These qualities serve her well in her position as Administrative Coordinator of the Diversity Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) office for the Army Corps of Engineers in Buffalo.

As Administrative Coordinator, Lavette manages the EEO’s Disability Program. She ensures that employees with disabilities are accommodated in the workplace and assists them in any way possible. When asked to describe her job satisfaction in one word, Lavette enthusiastically answers, “meaningful!”

Lavette first became aware of ACCES-VR as a freshman biology major at Buffalo State University. At the time, she was working with the school’s Disability Services Department to accommodate her ADHD. When she arrived in that office to take a test one afternoon, a staff member informed her about ACCES-VR. As a result, ACCES-VR services helped Lavette financially during the rest of her time as an undergraduate. They paid for books, helped cover the cost of classes, and provided a vital piece of assistive technology in the form of a voice recording note taking pen, even as she moved to the University at Buffalo, and completed a degree in Psychology with a minor in counseling.

Lavette graduated in September of 2019, and right away, as most new grads do, took the first job she could find, as a paint salesperson at Sherwin-Williams. This was a good job to be sure, but one, not up to Lavette’s incredible skill set, which along with her outgoing personality, was being wasted organizing paint swatches and mixing half gallons. Lavette wanted more!

ENTER Andrea Todaro and Innovative Placements.

Not finding satisfaction at the paint store, Lavette’s ACCES-VR’s friendly and adept Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Phillip Ruska put her in touch with Andrea. “Andrea is just SO NICE! She got in touch with me immediately, she was so enthusiastic, and we just clicked right away.” Lavette was unsure if her undergraduate degree would be enough to net a job. “I thought about going back to school, because that’s what I thought I had to do, but Andrea helped me find work with the skills and education I already possessed.” Andrea gave Lavette options. This continued throughout their time together. “I had thought about becoming a college counselor,” says Lavette. “When Andrea brought up the idea of a career in human resources administration, although it wasn’t a goal I’d considered, it ended up paying off!”

Innovative Placements helped Lavette retool her resume, create a cover letter, and gave her advice on the interview process. This helped Lavette build confidence. “Encouraging,” says Lavette when asked to sum up Andrea’s approach. “I remember Bryant and Stratton offered me a job that wasn’t at the salary that I wanted. Andrea encouraged me to go on the interview just as a way to gain experience. I didn’t take the job, but it was great that Andrea was always pushing me forward to give as many opportunities a chance.”

Lavette and Andrea Todaro started working together in February/March of 2020 right before the coronavirus pandemic struck. Despite the challenges that arose, including wearing masks, social distancing, zoom calls, and rising job layoffs, by May, Lavette had landed the job! An impressive bit of maneuvering and effort by any measure.

“I had to take a bit of a pay cut going from Sherwin Williams to my current position, but it’s better than lifting paint all day,” says Lavette with a laugh. Lavette’s responsibilities as manager of the Disability Program include providing any, and all, accommodations to employees that ask for them. This entails physical modifications, specialized equipment, assistive technology, and providing accessible communication, such as sign language interpreters. In addition, Lavette handles employee complaints and HR concerns, contributes to recruitment drives, and is an event planner for the organization. “It’s different everyday…planning events; it’s a fun challenge.”

One event that Lavette is particularly proud to have organized is a Lunch & Learn event in recognition of Disability Awareness Month. The participants each read the book “Behind the Curtain: Three Days in the Hidden Life of a Special Needs Family” followed by a virtual lecture and discussion with the author, Amanda Shepler. The book was about the author’s experiences with her son who is on the autism spectrum. “It really opened a lot of people’s eyes about the disorder” says Lavette in a proud tone. She plans to organize a similar event in recognition of Black History Month and hopes to engage the Colored Musicians Club of Buffalo, for the occasion. Before that happens, Lavette will re-team with Andrea Todaro in February 2021 to create a workshop, which will help prospective job seekers navigate the process of applying and interviewing for government jobs. Lavette’s very meaningful work continues!

By Martin Kilroy, Writer for Innovative Placements