H. Pancho Timmons was about to drop out of Slippery Rock University when a 5-minute conversation changed his life. His writing teacher recognized his classroom struggles as undiagnosed dyslexia and encouraged him to get the proper help.
He followed that advice, stayed in school and went on to earn a couple of master’s degrees.
His early experience overcoming a disability helped direct his career of helping others. He worked for 14 years with the Office of Rehab Services, but he felt he could do more and moved on.
Today, at age 42, Pancho is the CEO of Pennsylvania Youth Initiative (PYI), an organization that gives career opportunities to transition-aged kids with disabilities and increases workplace diversity and inclusion.
Approximately 275,000 students in Pennsylvania have a disability. The unemployment rate for them is double that of the rest of the population, according to the Department of Labor and Industry.
In the nearly two years since PYI formed, the organization has helped more than 300 job-seekers find happiness and employment.
