POWERGRAMS

INNOVATION Employees, company optimistic about opportunities for disabled J oJo" Corley never expected to go back to work at Alabama Power. But with the help of the company's Disability Management team, he has been back on the job since May 1. Corley was injured three years ago when a beach game went terribly awry. He broke his neck diving through the surf and was paralyzed. Corley said the company worked with him to make his wish to return to work a reality. "Disability Management found out exactly what kind of accommodations I needed," he said. "Then they came up with a game plan to find areas where I could be most beneficial." As a Transmission line specialist, Corley is responsible for keeping track of crew locations, and updating and revising work schedules. Disability Management, Transmission and MetLife partnered to provide him with equipment to work independently at home. Corley wears braces on his arms adapted with a stylus to operate an iPad. He uses voice-activated Bluetooth headphones and a smartphone app to communicate with crews via SouthernLINC. "I just thank Alabama Power for the opportunity to return to work," Corley said. "I had worked at the company for 10 years before my accident, and it makes me feel good that all that experience is not going to waste." Disability Management employees worked with Power Delivery to get Brandon Denney back to work after he was paralyzed from the chest down in a four-wheeler accident in 2012. On May 28, Denney became an operations supervisor at the Birmingham Distribution Operations Center. Special accommodations included raising Denney's desk 2 inches for his wheelchair, and equipping his truck with a special seat cushion and wheelchair lift. "The company has been real good to me the whole time," Denney said. "I was a lineman before the accident, so I'm learning all over again." Corley and Denney have returned to work as part of a renewed emphasis on helping people who have been affected by Photos by Bill Snow Corley uses stylus to operate iPad. Corley keeps track of crews on screen at home. illness or work-related injuries. "We first identify those people on disability who are interested or able to return to work," said Toi Corbett, Disability Management supervisor. "Then, we work with their doctor and management to determine their needs and see what accommodations will be required for them to do the job. "Because these employees often return with different abilities, it may require us to think outside the box and find a job that fits their skills," she said. "In some cases, they may even get jobs at other companies if they can no longer work at Alabama Power." Hiring and retaining disabled employees is Disability Management's primary goal, said Manager Jeff Cofield. To that end, the organization has recently made available a vocational counselor, Marissa Howell, who leads disabled employees through the process of assessment, career planning and returning to work. The company partners with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS), drawing on the expertise of the state agency workers. ADRS has helped administer employee assessments, recommended accommodations or equipment required for performing jobs, conducted training and, in some cases, provided financial assistance. "We have developed a really strong level of trust and a high degree of confidence in each other," Cofield said of the company's 25-year partnership with ADRS. "They understand the consumer side of the business and are willing to work with employers and employees to do what's necessary to help them come together in the marketplace." "Our relationship is rock solid," said Peggy Anderson, administrator of the Business Relations Program. "ADRS and Alabama Power have shared resources and expertise over the years, and have a history of trust because of that foundation." Disability Management is involved in statewide efforts to employ and retain people with disabilities. These include the Alabama Business Leadership Employment Network, the Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, the State Rehabilitation Council, and the Center for Disability Rights and Resources. "Having a diverse work force is smart business," Cofield said. "Employing people with disabilities makes Alabama Power a better, more caring company. It's also good for employees because they are able to provide for their families, and it's good for the community because we're creating taxpayers instead of consumers of disability income." By Carla Davis PAGE 5

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