Wheels of Progress

On a typical night at University of Illinois – beer in hand, laughter in the air – Pat Maher lost his balance and fell 25 feet from a splintering fraternity house balcony. A memory meant to encapsulate his college days turned into a life-altering experience.

The fall compressed his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the torso down. Six surgeries and months of rehabilitation later, his infectious optimism stayed untouched.

With his mantra, “It’ll be challenging, but I can do it,” he began to rebuild his life. From rock climbing to camping trips and wheelchair basketball, Maher did it all.

What could have been the tragic end to his youth became the starting point for his remarkable legacy.

He began working in civic engagement to support the success of historically overlooked and discounted segments of the workforce, specifically people with disabilities. He ensured anyone that came to him looking for employment found a meaningful career.

Maher’s resilience caught the eye of his childhood basketball coach, Rob Figliulo. Figliulo began to understand his professional life and offered him a position as a freelance recruiter at his software development company, SPR.

Without hesitation Maher took the job.

After some time at the company Figliulo realized how special Maher is. He had a “ meaningful, focused way of recruiting people,” that helped SPR get out of a financial slump.

Figliulo recounted the moment he knew Maher would make an impact:

“It was the 1998 Chicago blizzard … nobody was in the office. As I’m leaving I see Pat in the lobby knocking snow off his wheelchair.  I asked him, ‘How did you get here in the snow?’”

Figliulo was met with a classic Maher remark: “I’ve always liked a challenge. Why wouldn’t I come into work?”

His positive attitude and dedication to his work confirmed how much of an asset Maher was. Figliulo knew he was the right person to work for their new practice, nAblement.

Months later Maher was hired by SPR as a full-time recruiter for disabled technical professionals and led nAblement.

He coined the company’s civic engagement efforts to train, mentor and employ technical professionals of all genders, ethnicities, disabilities and backgrounds. His mission wasn’t only to fight unemployment rates, but to educate other professionals on the importance of disability inclusivity.The concept of accessibility in technology was in its infancy when Maher started – it was a novelty. But he turned it into a movement, impacting more than 1,000 lives.

Maher’s colleagues attribute his success to his unrelenting optimism, driving motivation and relaxing demeanor that puts people at ease and enables open and honest conversations. 

“We had traction with nAblement because of him,” said John Daniels, his business partner.“He taught us that people with disabilities are no different, we’re all differently abled and we all have something that makes us unique.”

With a personal understanding of the emotional and physical turmoil accompanying disabilities, Maher offered a different perspective and opportunity for support. But he was also a role model.

“We could offer the same as another competitor, but [customers] would choose us cause we were working with people with disabilities,” Daniels said.

Maher explained how inclusive language and representation within a company can attract or turn away prospective clients and employees. There are small details, often overlooked, that can boost a company or career, and Maher helped expose that.

Often, employers reject applications from people with disabilities under the assumptions they are inadequate or incapable.

This year the U.S. Department of Labor found people without disabilities are almost twice as likely to find employment than those with a disability. This can be a result of bias and accessibility issues, like lack of training , transportation or workplace accommodations.

People with disabilities have had the greatest rise in employment rates since the pandemic. The 6% point increase is attributed to the surge in remote work and more accomodating positions.  

This was the kind of support Bill O’Connor needed in 2022 after surviving a severe brain hemorrhage.

Suffering from a long recovery and loss of partial movement, his work as a stock trader slowed down. Gradually his sales book grew smaller and smaller until he was terminated.

Facing a startling new reality, O’Connor couldn’t imagine a future.

“I didn’t realize I had to go in with a whole new me,” O’Connor said.

Until he met Maher.

“He made me feel like I belonged again and had a chance to get back on my feet,” O’Connor said. “We became coworkers, then he became my boss. But through it all, he was my friend.”

O’Connor credits Maher for helping him rediscover his purpose:

“I wouldn’t be the person I am today without [Maher]. He’s one of the most important people in the disability community in Chicago.”

O’Connor continued:

“The things he has done in regards to technology and employment, it's helped diversity really grow throughout Chicago to make it a city that focuses on employment and disability.”

As time has gone on, Maher’s health hasn’t been able to keep up with his youthful spirit. His time at the office is coming to an end, but his legacy will carry on.

Even in preparation for retirement, Maher isn’t ready to let go of his work. He aspires for the company to continue growing respect and engagement for the disability candidate base.

“I’m passionate about what I’m doing, what I’ve done, and will do in the future after I’m well and gone.” Maher chuckled, adding “hopefully not from Earth, but from the company.”

Figliulo planned a company-wide retirement party for Maher with his family and friends. As they hugged, cried, and laughed during toasts, the love for Maher was abundant.

Reflecting on Maher’s career and impact on SPR, Figliulo shared how having Maher in his life was a “terrific influence” as it allowed him to meet a broad spectrum of people who have disabilities and allowed him to see what they can do as opposed to what they can't do.

Figliulo said SPR will never be the same, but Maher’s work will forever live on in the company’s DNA:

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to replace  him…there will never be another Pat Maher.”