Wes Bartell
Software Engineer
“I completed my bachelor’s degree in four years in Information Systems. I managed to get a job at Northrop Grumman 6 months after graduating college and then learned to drive and obtain a driver’s license.”
photo by Abby Whitmore
Are you employed or in school? If yes, where?
“Yes, I am employed under Peraton, previously Northrop Grumman as a software engineer.”
How are you capable – what things do you do best?
“Living independently and providing for myself with little to no help from friends or family. Overcoming my physical limitations with the day-to-day challenges of life and continue to advance my career and continue to set goals for aspirations I have in life such as traveling and improvement my quality of life as a physically handicapped individual.”
What do you want people to know about you?
“I would like people to know that I completed 4 years of college and have a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems. I managed to get a job at Northrop Grumman 6 months after graduating college and them learned to drive and obtain a driver’s license. Additionally, I was able purchase a car and get it modified to accommodate my physical disability. I now live on my own in a town home. I would also like people to know that I am very compassionate about disabled people finding good jobs that accommodate them well and allow them to gain their own independence.”
If you could plan the perfect day, where would you go?
“I would go to the Virginia Beach Ocean front with some friends, book a room at the Hilton Hotel during the weekend of Tidewater Comic con. I would plan to eat an amazing breakfast at the Hilton Hotel restaurant or some place that served eggs benedict. Then I would relax on the board walk and beach until about 11:30am. Eat lunch on the Hilton Hotel patio, probably fried calamari and tacos with fancy mixed drinks. Then after lunch I would take a siesta and then go to the Virginia Beach convention and walk around and take pictures with cosplayers and merchant vendors for several hours. I would then go back to the hotel have a small dinner and relax in a jacuzzi.”
What do you like best about living in Virginia?
“I live in Newport News and what I like most is that many of my living needs are very accessible and close by. Additionally, most restaurants around me offer delivery services. Newport News is also very centrally located to my family and friends who live in Gloucester, York Town, Williamsburg, and Hampton areas. A couple bonuses for me are that I am close to Yorktown Beach and Busch Gardens.”
What goals do you have for the future?
“My goals for the future are to continue my career as a Software Engineer, and try and built up enough independents and self-accommodation to travel on my own. Currently it a large challenge for me to places on my own and drive certain places on my own.”