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Joey Clune: Finding Success and Growth through Empowering Summer Job Experience

Joey Clune has just finished up a six-week internship at Techno Rescue in Frederick, Maryland, and if there was an open position, Maria Kuhn, the IT company’s Lead Tech, would hire him on the spot. She will be giving the 19-year-old Tuscarora High School student a glowing review, however.

“I’ll tell you what, Joey is one of the best techs that I have ever trained – ever,” said Maria, who’s been in the IT field for years. “We have a lot of processes, and he just picked them right up. I love his attitude, and everything about him. I’d recommend him to anybody.”

Joey’s internship, or Work-based Learning Experience (WBLE), as it’s officially called, with Techno Rescue was secured with the support of Penn-Mar Job Developer Court Dudek. For several years now, Penn-Mar has been in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education’s Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to provide pre-employment transition services to young people with disabilities ages 14 to 21.

WBLE, also known as the Summer Youth Program, is administered and funded by DORS, and offers students like Joey, who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (Joey was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and a half), with paid internships throughout Maryland, earning the minimum wage of $15 an hour. As a DORS partner, Penn-Mar facilitates job development and on-site job coaching during the six-to-eight-week program, which generally runs from June to August.

When Court first approached Techno Rescue, this past winter, on behalf of another student, the company’s Chief Revenue and Operations Officer Keith Silvermen was very receptive to bringing on someone with disabilities to intern with them, as Court said. Due to the student’s school schedule the opportunity fell through, but Court returned to the company this past June to see if they could provide Joey with an opportunity to gain some valuable work experience.

During Court’s initial meeting with Joey, who was accompanied by his mother Michele, he learned of the young man’s keen interest in and knowledge of computers, and of the tech courses he has taken through the school system’s Frederick County Career and Technology Center, where Joey spends half his regular school day.

“Joey knows how to troubleshoot software, and take apart a computer and rebuild it,” said Court. “He also has what is called the CompTIA A+ certification, which is what you need to be certified to do this work. Joey’s credentials pretty much sealed the deal with Techno Rescue. It was a perfect fit.”

The CompTIA A+ certification, Maria said, is one of the hardest exams one must take to obtain an entry-level IT position, and Joey took two of them. The certification can serve as a steppingstone for higher level IT roles and specializations. “It’s a big thing and companies look for it when hiring,” she said.

“Maria has had nothing but high praise for Joey,” said Court. “Not only does he know what he’s doing, but he has great retention, remembering what to do. She can see him doing very well in the IT field.”

Joey describes the work he has been doing for the past six weeks as very systematic. His main duty, he said, has been refurbishing laptops: “I test old laptops to determine which components work, combine the working components to make functioning laptops, wipe their hard drives, install operating systems, and document the components and issues on the laptops.”

The work atmosphere has been very relaxed and self-paced, Joey said, since computers can take a while before they’re ready for the next step. He finds the work to be fulfilling, something he enjoys and excels at, but he acknowledged that he doesn’t have much experience in the field, and because of that he tends to get stuck when troubleshooting an issue he hasn’t encountered before. However, he said, the team at Techno Rescue has been very nice and supportive.

While the internship with the company has been giving Joey much needed work experience and a taste of what being employed in the IT field would be like, it’s also, to some degree, been helping to improve his soft skills.

“Academically, Joey does very well,” said his mom Michele. “But [because of his autism], he still struggles with the soft skills that can help improve his chances of getting a job down the road. Those social skills, the pragmatic language, like being able to talk with someone new, or interact with a coworker.

I’m very pleased. Court was able to find a great fit for Joey, something that he likes doing and is related to something he will do later in life, I think. It’s been a really good opportunity.”

Maria, whose brother has autism and who had an uncle with disabilities, commends Michele for how she has raised Joey. “She has done a beautiful job. He’s very sweet, kind and gentle, he has a great dry sense of humor, and oh my goodness he’s just smart, very smart!”

To Michele’s surprise, the boy who doesn’t like loud noises, loves heavy metal rock music, she said. Two years ago, Joey picked up the electric guitar and began taking lessons at the Frederick School of Rock where he was later invited to join a band. He was reluctant at first, because it meant interacting with new people, but once he tried it, he was hooked.

For Joey, music is a creative outlet and a way to relax (he also loves spending time with his two older sisters, with whom he’s very close), however, he’s unsure what his career goals are at the moment, and shared that the past few years have been incredibly tough for him. “The thought of actually having a career and being independent never crossed my mind because it was a struggle to get through everything else in my life. If I had to make a goal, it would be to follow the path that I enjoy.”

Joey looks to be on the right path towards independence and a successful and rewarding career. He’s pursuing his interests and talents with passion, gaining knowledge, skills and work experience, and is surrounded by love and support, which we all need to thrive in the world.

Michele has lots of hope for her son. “The most important thing for me is for Joey to be happy and safe. I want him to be in a good state, to be independent and self-supportive, and be able to do the things he likes.”

Rock on, Joey!