Member Spotlight: Laura Andert Hopes to Make the Workforce More Accessible

Laura, a woman smiling with glasses and a tan top, posed in front of trees.

By Arielle Dance, Writer at Diversability

Laura Andert (she/her) has lived with cerebral palsy for most of her life. Diagnosed at the age of 2, her life has been shaped by many aspects of her disability. Because of her early diagnosis, Laura has embraced the audacity to persevere and advocate for herself. She has never been timid or hesitant in seeking what she wants. With the support of others, she has reached her goals, but acknowledges how empowering it has been to succeed on her own. Laura is driven by gratitude, joy, and an abundance of self-advocacy.  As a resilient leader in the workforce, Laura believes that, "You are the Creator of your own future. No one else will do it for you!”

In her professional life, Laura has encountered great success. When she seeks a position, she chases after it with determination. This has not always been easy, since many doors were shut on her. However, she forged new paths until she received a positive result, and her perseverance welcomed bigger and better opportunities. Laura has worked with employment specialists and job coaches to strengthen her skills. With this motivation, Laura has conquered her latest goal. As of February of this year, she earned her Work Incentive Practitioner Credential Program, WIP-C™certification through The Work Incentive Support Center (WISC) at The K. Lisa Yang and Hock E. Tan Institute on Employment and Disability, part of the ILR School at Cornell University. 

As a certified Work Incentive Practitioner, Laura counsels and provides work incentive counseling services to individuals with disabilities receiving Social Security, Federal, and State benefits, including healthcare coverage like Medicare and Medical Assistance (MA). She has a deep-focus on strengthening self-sufficiency in these individuals to understand work incentives (special rules)  to help protect their benefits— including work preparation, advancement, and an emphasis on financial well-being. Her hope is to help applicable individuals realize they have the ability to take control of their financial futures, independently. “I get to help teach employers how to hire individuals with disabilities. Along with supporting job seekers to reach high potential in the workplace…I am very grateful to be able to do this in my profession.”

Acknowledgement: Thank you to Laura Andert, a member of the Diversability Leadership Collective, for sharing your experiences with us.