Posted on August 15, 2024
In his role as Job Developer for Penn-Mar, Court Dudek regularly receives referral opportunities from the Maryland State Department of Education Division for Rehabilitation Services (DORS). The leads connect students he supports in the Work-Based Learning Experience (WBLE) to job training opportunities that will help them to work and live independently.
Eric Zimmerman pictured with his father and the PG County government representative at a computer donation for PG County. (L-R)
One such opportunity was for a six-week internship with The Buddy Project in Frederick, MD, an organization that accommodates the specific learning and social needs of the disabled population in the Maryland area by using computers and technology education.
Eric D. Zimmerman, a 36-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of Autism, is the Founder and Technical Director of The Buddy Project. During his High School years, he volunteered for Best Buddies International, a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to form friendships, secure jobs, and lead change.
“It was a happy time for me,” Eric recalled. “People with disabilities have the same wants and needs as everybody and are capable of many things. I fell in love with the concept and how they gave everyone there a sense of belonging.”
Eric eventually landed a paid internship with the organization and while there noticed many computers being thrown away.
“I did a lot of data entry work and began to recognize that many people with disabilities have little to no access to commonplace household technologies, even things like their own email account. Many younger people had to share their home computers with parents and siblings. And in the group homes, the older residents didn’t have money to buy new computers. I started thinking, why not get used and discarded computers and refurbish them for this population.”
That vision and his experience with Best Buddies International was the genesis for The Buddy Project that Eric started 17 years ago. The organization pairs volunteer professionals with novice beginners to create an IT community that is helping to unlock some of the everyday barriers faced by the IDD community. It is focused on the repair, rehabilitation and reimaging of donated used computers that are custom tailored and provided free to many people with disabilities and their families.
When the internship opportunity came in, Court and his employment specialist colleague were working with Zach, a student Penn-Mar is supporting, who had expressed a desire to learn more about the technology field.  Intrigued with the training potential, they set up an interview with Zach, his mother Rachel, and the organization’s founder.
“When I first met Zach, he was very shy, but it was clear computers were right up his alley,” said Eric. “He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do specifically but he was hoping we could provide him with good job experience. We invited him to join our volunteer team to work on a project for the State of Maryland to get free laptops donated to low-income individuals.”
Initially Zach worked on taking apart and recycling computers to salvage valuable parts, but soon became interested in working with the team of volunteers who were imaging computers. Under the watchful eye of Eric’s stepson, Ulrich, Zach learned how to wipe the whole operating system and reinstall Windows software, replace damaged hard drives and trouble shoot as needed.
“Zach did well, and I think it was a worthwhile, positive experience for him. He quickly got used to working with us, was very respectful and always asked if it was okay for him to go before saying goodbye for the day. He is welcome back any time he wants to volunteer with us again!”