The John V. Wright, Jr. Story!

Employing the Disabled is a Great Idea!
Celebrating Disability Employment Awarement Month!

Job: Meteorologist-in-Charge
Who: National Weather Service

John V. Wright, Jr. has been the Meteorologist-in-Charge of the Weather Forecast Office in Blacksburg, Virginia since arriving there in 1994. He currently manages a staff of 24 meteorologists, hydrologists, and hydrometeorological technicians. Wright was born with cerebral palsy, which affects his walking gait and speech. When he was first hired, despite holding a Masters degree, his manager was uncomfortable with working with someone who had severe muscle spasms. Fortunately, the Director assigned him to another project that enabled John to gain the respect of his co-workers. Just recently, he has begun to use adaptive software. A program called "Naturally Speaking" enables him to speak to his computer and the computer translates his spoken word to text at a rate of up to 150 words a minute. Mr. Wright has over 26 years of experience with the National Weather Service. In the early 1990s, the Weather Service began installing Doppler radar at designated test facilities. He was chosen to oversee the implementation of the radar in Goodland, Kansas, then selected to manage a second Nexrad Radar office in Blacksburg, Virginia. He has given more than 450 presentations and has trained more than 2,000 SKYWARN observers to be volunteer severe weather spotters. His awards include the National Exceptional Specific Prediction Award; the Department of Commerce's Bronze Medal, and the Administrator's Award from the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Mr. Wright believes that his employment with the National Weather Service has helped him achieve career success in the field of meteorology and more importantly, in life. He feels that having cerebral palsy has made him look to other avenues in life that might have otherwise been of less importance.

http://www.opm.gov/disability/success_1-06.asp#jump-1

U.S. Office of Personnel Management 1900 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20415 (202) 606-1800 TTY (202) 606-2532