I am a person with multiple disabilities, including an intellectual disability. I am also a writer and advocate who served as the DEAI Chairperson at the National Council on Independent Living for three years. Despite my accomplishments, I was once told that my future career options were severely limited.
Seventeen years ago, as I was preparing to graduate from high school, I had my final IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting. A job coach attended the meeting after visiting me a few weeks earlier to discuss my future career plans. At the time, my 18-year-old self dreamed of becoming a massage therapist. But when the meeting came around, she presented two employment recommendations that were nothing short of shocking: working in a sheltered workshop doing piecework or becoming a Walmart greeter.
These were the only options she believed I had. When my mom and I asked how I would handle needing to use the restroom while on the job, her suggestion floored us even more. She actually recommended I wear an adult diaper or use a catheter.
Let me make one thing clear: I am perfectly capable of advocating for myself when I need to use the restroom. The fact that these were the only options presented to me highlights the lack of accessibility in programs like this, which don’t even accommodate basic human needs. My mom and I were beyond livid, and we immediately dismissed her suggestions.
This experience stuck with me. After that, I wasn’t offered any other meaningful job opportunities or training for what I was passionate about—massage therapy. Faced with a lack of support and no viable career options, I wasn’t sure what the future held for me. But in 2008, a friend who worked at a nonprofit asked if I wanted to volunteer with her on a major summer cancer fundraiser. I jumped at the opportunity, and that volunteer position became my first stepping stone.
After the fundraiser, I realized I wanted to do something more. So in 2009, I started a small group called *Youth Changing the World* with two friends from high school. For over ten years, we completed 100 projects for a variety of causes in our community, and I’m incredibly proud of the impact we made.
In 2015, while still running the group, I turned to writing as an outlet, and it blossomed into a full-fledged career. Since then, I’ve written for several publications, including being sought out and writing*PBS Kids*, focusing on disability and representation in television.
In 2021, I was i was approached to serve as the DEAI (Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion) Committee Chair for the National Council on Independent Living. During my time as chair, I made significant strides. I created a survey to gather demographic data from within the organization, defined DEAI terms that NCIL now uses, and developed a mission and purpose statement for the committee—all things that weren’t in place before I arrived. I’m proud of the progress we made.
I’m sharing my story because, as someone with multiple disabilities, an IEP diploma, and no formal training in my chosen careers, I’ve succeeded. Society often pigeonholes people with disabilities into limited roles based on outdated perceptions of what we’re capable of. But we are more than those preconceived notions.
It’s time to recognize that sheltered workshops are not the solution. People with disabilities deserve to earn at least minimum wage, if not more. We deserve customized training that reflects our interests and aspirations. In 2024, this should be a given. We are capable of far more than society often believes, and it’s time for programs and employers to start recognizing that.
Featured image via Monica Melton on Unsplash
