Richard Nero knows the challenges of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) first hand. In 2004, during his second combat tour in Iraq, the Military Police Corps staff sergeant was onboard an Air Force C5 when it was shot down by an insurgent missile. While he suffered no visible wounds in the crash, Nero later learned that he had a severe intracranial concussion that caused serious side effects.

Nero received treatment in Kuwait, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. But following his medical release, his challenges were just beginning. Nero moved to North Carolina where he struggled for more than two years. In addition to the short- and long-term memory loss caused by his TBI, Nero was experiencing symptoms of PTSD, including depression, rage and substance abuse issues. But a phone call from a vice president at Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc. in St. Louis changed everything. Nero had worked at Forest Pharmaceuticals as a computer consultant prior to his deployment, and now, the company had a new IT position to offer him. Nero accepted and packed his bags for Missouri.

Today, Nero works as a full-time computer engineer at Forest where he tests and implements enterprise resource planning software. Recently promoted, he credits his success to a supportive and accommodating workplace environment.

"When I first started, the people at my company were incredible champions for me," said Nero. "I felt like I had my own cheering section to make me feel good about myself and the job that I was doing."

Nero's managers also worked to implement job accommodations that would help him succeed in the workplace. For example, they stationed him in a private office without windows which had a tendency to distract him and cause him to be hypersensitive to the things going on around him. In addition, he enjoys a flexible schedule which allows him to attend medical appointments or take a day off when he has a TBI-related headache.

Nero also attributes his success to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vocational Rehabilitation & Training (VR&E) division. When he arrived in St. Louis, he met and forged a close relationship with his local VR&E counselor, Corliss Strathearn. She guided him to training and services that helped him thrive both on the job and off. In addition to connecting him with counseling services for his PTSD, Strathearn enrolled Nero in university courses and other training opportunities. The experience has inspired Nero to pursue a degree in computer science.

Nero continues to enjoy his job, but he keeps busy outside of the workplace, as well. He and his wife Greta recently purchased a house and are busy raising their baby girl, Laya.

"I can say without hesitation that my wife, Corliss and my job truly saved my life," says Nero, who believes employment to be a crucial part of an injured veterans recovery process. "If I werent employed, Id probably have a headstone," he said.