ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Team APG hosted the annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month program Oct. 25 in the APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center.
State's Attorney for Harford County and Purple Heart recipient Joseph Cassilly was the guest speaker for the event. Cassilly is disabled and uses a wheelchair as a result of injuries he received while serving in Vietnam. He is an advocate on issues for the disabled, and has served on design teams for Baltimore sports stadiums and other large projects. In 2007, Cassilly was given a Legacy of Excellence in Litigation from the University of Baltimore Law School and in 2011, he was named the "Outstanding Disabled Veteran" by the Disabled American Veterans.
"If you ask me, with respect to my job, am I disabled, the answer is no. I can do my job perfectly well," Cassilly said. "I have been in the State's Attorney's Office for thirty-five years, but it wasn't easy to get there."
Cassilly said that he overcame many obstacles while he was a student and during his career. He recalled when he was unable to take a required math class at the university he was attending because the class was located in a building without a wheelchair ramp. Cassilly had to teach himself through a correspondence course.
"That was the attitude; that you just have to put up with this," Cassilly said. "I am sure that there were other people that gave up; did not try anymore. We need to encourage disabled young people, let them know that there is nothing they can't do."
Cassilly said that over the years he has seen progress in attitudes towards the disabled. For instance, the Army has made improvements in providing job opportunities for disabled Soldiers who were injured while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said.
"They are saying, we have roles for you," Cassilly said. "You are not disabled, you have more experience. That is one of the greatest statements about looking at the person, what that person brings to the organization, as opposed to looking at the disability."
He added that in some ways his disability actually enhances his job performance. For example he is able to understand the difficulties of clients who are disabled by drunken drivers.
"It gives me a unique perspective," he said.
The observance included the National Anthem sung by Courtney White from the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, and the invocation by U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Juan M. Crockett. U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Chief of Staff Col. Charles Gibson gave welcoming remarks.
In addition to the program, the event included two workshops. Jill McClintick, from the APG Civilian Personnel Advisory Center, presented "Schedule-A Hiring Authority -- How Does It Really Work?" and Exceptional Family Member Program Manager Nancy Goucher, from Army Community Service, presented "Preparing Children with Disabilities to Move from School to Work."
Vendors from the local community provided educational information and exhibits. G1 Recruiter De'Shawna Gardner, from Army Team C4ISR, told attendees about the Always a Soldier program, designed for veterans with a 30 percent or more service-connected disability. For more information e-mail Gardner at deshawna.gardner@us.army.mil.
Several attendees said that they received helpful information during the event.
"I attended to learn more about federal job opportunities for my son, who is disabled," said Dee Thompson, a post resident. "The more information I receive the better advocate I can be for my son. It is harder to find help for your child, once they get to be a certain age."
"I think the program is fantastic, that they provide these services and information for us," said Bonnie Day, an RDECOM employee, who is disabled. "You don't find that in a lot of workplaces."
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