Joe Wood

That's what happened to Joe Wood , an AT&T engineer on the FASTAR rapid development team in Atlanta , 23 years ago.I fell asleep with my contacts in one night and the next morning I couldn't see , Wood says.I went from being able to drive one day to being escorted the next..

Getting around in a corporate maze such as AT&T is tough enough for those with sight , but it's really challenging for employees with disabilities who face the added hurdle of gaining the confidence of co-workers.For Wood , that's been an uphill battle.When I started with AT&T in 1986 , the hiring manager was very accepting of me being legally blind , but others wondered why I was there , Wood says.They didn't expect me to be able to do the things I could..

To prove his competency Wood would stage contests to see which team member could most quickly locate a particular document.He gained a competitive edge by creating a software program that searched his computer files and allowed him to automatically retrieve the document.In seconds Wood's voice-commanded program would be reading the document , while his co-workers were still shuffling paper.

Proving himself is something Wood says he must do constantly.People don't understand that people with disabilities are as fully capable and competent as an able-bodied person - and sometimes better - because of their disability , he says.To compensate for our disability , we enhance some other skills , techniques , and thought processes.A blind person , for example , must listen more carefully than a sighted person.That listening skill is a valuable business tool..

The first legally blind person accepted into Purdue University's School of Engineering , Wood never gave up on himself.I went through stages of denial after being diagnosed with retinitus pigmentosa , the disease that took my eyesight , Wood says.But I had a strong family support system , which helped me get through it all..

To provide such a support network for other disabled employees , Wood and a group of friends founded IDEAL ( Individuals with Disabilities Enabling Advocacy Link ) in 1992.IDEAL is one of AT&T's seven business resource groups.As the group's former president and an active member , Wood helps raise awareness about the stereotypes that can stigmatize disabled employees.Stereotypes are one of the biggest issues we face , Wood says.I'm blind , so some people perceive me to be dumb , wanting something for nothing , not as good as other people.Those assumptions are false..

Diversity is not limited to black , white or gender issues , Wood explains.It applies to people with disabilities as well.

He believes AT&T people need a better appreciation of the various cultures and perspectives within the business.Different backgrounds and viewpoints add to the business , he explains.The more diverse the company , the better..

TOPAT& ; T CopyrightAuthor : Latron Thorne