A Maryville program offers free job development and placement services for people with disabilities.

BY CONSTANCE GIBBS

Chris Kaemmerer is a computer technology teacher at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Washington, Missouri. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in financial analysis. During his free time, he serves as an adjunct professor at Kaplan’s College for Financial Planning and enjoys amateur radio.

Kaemmerer, who was paralyzed in a dune buggy accident, uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility. He was recently denied Social Security Disability Insurance because he is working above the limit considered substantial gainful activity. In other words, he makes too much money to be considered disabled. But Kaemmerer’s teaching jobs are only part-time, and even with his wife’s income as a fifth-grade teacher, the couple has financial needs that remain unmet.

So when Kaemmerer needed a new wheelchair, he reached out to Sarah Diehl ’13, MA, CRC, a vocational rehabilitation counselor for St. Louis South Vocational Rehabilitation. The organization offers a wide range of services for people with disabilities, and the two began discussing Kaemmerer’s desire to secure a higher-level position. Diehl knew where he could go for specialized employment and training services free of charge: Maryville University.

Each semester, Katherine Kline, PhD, associate professor of rehabilitation counseling, seeks referrals of people with disabilities in the St. Louis community who are searching for employment. She works alongside her students to navigate the vocational counseling process of empowering clients to know the law and their rights in the employment interview process.

Maryville students not only practice vocational counseling, but they are also exposed to net–working, case management and principles of social capital via the referral and consultation components of the program. The program is a one-of-a-kind training for rehabilitation counselors, created because Kline saw a need to put theory into practice.

“Our students are gaining specialized skills of working with people with disabilities that they cannot get anywhere else,” Kline said. “What better way to prepare students for the workforce than to give them this opportunity to develop these skills before they graduate, where they are able to support one another and collaborate with faculty through an active learning process.”

Kaemmerer worked with rehabilitation counseling students Zack Wilson and Alyssa Hunziker. During one session, the group discussed Kaemmerer’s results of CareerScope, an online assessment tool that measures interests and skill levels. The Maryville students recommended different careers Kaemmerer may enjoy and be successful in based on his results. With his strong analytical skills, they thought a job in compliance or quality assurance would be a good fit.

“The program is wonderful, and I especially enjoyed working with the students,” Kaemmerer said. “Having a disability makes me feel vulnerable, but the students helped me achieve my goal of building on my strengths and overcoming my weaknesses. They opened my eyes to what the job market is like today and what I need to do to obtain a full-time position.”

The students also worked with Kaemmerer to update his resume and cover letter and helped prepare him for job interviews, sharing interview tips and practicing mock interviews. The students are also trained to help create LinkedIn profiles and personal websites.

The job development and placement program is also unique because of the technology used. Students use iPads to collaborate with one another and clients to complete complicated tasks such as creating electronic portfolios, processing case studies and documenting clinical hours.

“I think the iPad helps students be more creative and makes the program more engaging,” Kline said. “I often ask students to share their work during class, so they are always on their toes and ready to stream content using Apple AirPlay. My students also feel more prepared to enter the workforce because of their exposure to new technologies. Using the iPad helps them develop modern technology skills giving them a professional advantage over someone who has been in the career field for years.”

Because of her passion about the power of technology in education, Kline is one of five Maryville professors recognized as Apple Distinguished Educators. Her innovative work helped Maryville earn a 2018–2021 Apple Distinguished School designation, marking the second recognition of its kind for the University. The job development and placement program is a powerful differentiator for Maryville in providing students with a high-tech, mobile learning environment, and an experience that has a profound impact on clients and students alike.

“Working with actual clients is a great way to learn and I appreciate how open Kaemmerer was, and how he was willing to provide us with feedback,” Wilson said. “I think he had a lot of ‘a-ha’ moments where he realized he had more strengths and abilities than he previously thought. It was rewarding to be part of that process.”