Josh, 30, turned to SARRC’s Employment Services team as he pursued opportunities for career advancement.
For Josh Waxman, independence was never just a goal — it was something he began building from a young age. Identified with Asperger’s as a child, he has never allowed his diagnosis to define his journey, a perspective clearly reflected in his commitment to learning and growth.
In 2014, that journey reached a major milestone when he graduated from high school with a full-ride scholarship to Arizona State University. Excited to attend a large university and begin building his future, Josh entered with credits that accelerated his progress toward completing a double major in Accounting and Economics. At ASU, Josh enjoyed tutoring his peers in subjects like math and accounting. When he wasn’t focused on academics, he sharpened his competitive edge in a pool league — a hobby that remains a favorite today.
After graduating in 2019, Josh launched his accounting career, working with several companies. While he gained experience across different industries, he found his niche in the construction sector. As his career progressed, Josh remained motivated and committed to professional growth. However, he also experienced challenges related to social communication skills that made it difficult to secure new roles, particularly during the interview process.
To navigate these obstacles, Josh proactively sought support to strengthen his workplace and interviewing skills. He began with social skills training and later enrolled in SARRC’s Employment Services program through Vocational Rehabilitation, gaining guidance and tools that helped him approach the hiring process with greater confidence.
“It took me a while to actually do that because I’ve always wanted to do everything on my own, and it took me a while to ask for help,” says Josh.
Through the program, Josh worked with his SARRC job coach to identify goals focused on strengthening interview communication, understanding another person’s perspective, building rapport with interviewers and creating a clearer structure in his responses.
“The biggest thing that I took away from SARRC was being on the same mindset as [interviewer] and being able to answer their questions in an effective manner,” he says. “It was just difficult for me to relate to people for a long time. And once I was able to do that, life got a lot better, and I was able to understand where people are coming from.”
SARRC’s Employment Services program provides individuals with the opportunity to identify goals unique to their individual journeys while working alongside a job coach. Support may include preparing for employment, developing workplace social skills, maintaining meaningful employment or building confidence during interviews — as it did in Josh’s case. Clients may participate for a matter of months or longer, depending on their goals.
Now 30, and after several months working alongside SARRC’s Employment Services team, Josh was able to evaluate multiple job offers and choose the opportunity that best aligned with his goals.
He successfully accepted a position working in accounting with a construction firm in the Phoenix area, marking an important milestone in his professional journey. Having worked in his current position for 10 months, he enjoys the team environment and the work itself, sharing that the role has proven to be a strong match for his strengths while providing the structure and stability he values.
Understanding that everyone’s path to independence and employment looks different, Josh offers encouragement to others navigating similar journeys.
“You just got to keep trying and keep working for the right opportunity because it’ll come. And if there’s an opportunity you didn’t get, it’s alright. You learned something through it. There’s always a learning experience that you can take [away]. And it takes time, and it’s hard to find the right opportunity, but once you find it, just keep going.”
Outside of managing accounting and payroll responsibilities at a mid-sized construction firm, Josh enjoys pickleball and weekly pick-up basketball games — balancing career growth with community and connection.
But focused on continued learning and personal growth, Josh remains committed to building a life on his own terms.
“I wanted to create my own life and have my own income,” he says. “I’m going to do something great with my life.”
And with each new opportunity, Josh continues proving that independence is not a destination, but a journey shaped by persistence, encouragement and lifelong learning, as well as inspiring others on their own paths.