I Can Do the Job

Brian McCusker is a “go-to guy” at the Kansas City Regional Center .  People call him whenever they’re having trouble with their computers or a computer program.   Brian loves his job and is looking forward to the future, which certainly wasn’t the case a few years ago. 

Back in 1999, Brian was deeply depressed.  He was struggling to control his epilepsy and diabetes that had plagued him since high school.  A 39-year-old college graduate with a degree in computer science, he couldn’t find a job and was still living with his parents.  “I really wanted to work and live on my own, but no one would hire me.” 

Advances in technology made Brian’s computer science degree from the 1990’s virtually obsolete.  Intermittent epileptic seizures left him unable to drive.  Medication helped control Brian’s seizures and he took additional computer training classes, but he still had trouble finding a job.  He had plenty of job interviews, but upon hearing that Brian had epilepsy, no one would hire him and he couldn’t show his great capabilities.  He finally settled for a part-time job in the mail room at a local hospital, hoping it would lead to something else.  Brian’s parents began to worry about their son’s mental health. 

That’s when Brian and his parents heard about a program through the Epilepsy Foundation designed to help find jobs for people with epilepsy.  The program staff helped Brian revise his resume, sharpen his interview skills and use the internet as a job hunting tool.  But most important of all, they gave Brian actual job leads through employers they worked with in the past.  He went on three interviews.

One of those interviews was at the Kansas City Regional Center, where 150 employees work for the Missouri Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. They were seeking a computer network technician.  The director of information and technology wasn’t sure about hiring Brian, but Brenda Whitlock of the Epilepsy Foundation convinced her to give Brian a chance.  Brian was even willing to volunteer to prove he could do the job. Within a month, the agency hired him full-time. 

Brian’s job includes staffing the computer help desk, conducting computer training classes, repairing computer systems, installing software and running agency reports. He found an apartment right across the street, so his inability to drive isn’t a problem.  It takes him less than three minutes to walk from his apartment to his desk.  During the three years he’s worked at the Regional Center , Brian has had several seizures.  “The first time it happened, I was afraid it would be the end of my job, but they said ‘That’s O.K., take care of yourself and we’ll see you when you’re feeling better.’ ”  He was back in a couple of days.

Brian says, “I love my job and the feeling of being part of a team.  When I look into my bank account and see that I’m supporting myself it makes me feel really good.  I even have an IRA. It gives me a sense of optimism and hope for the future.   I’m convinced that I can do even more.”