Success knows no boundaries! In celebration of Disability Employment Awareness Month, we’re honoring the stories of individuals with disabilities who have triumphed over barriers to find meaningful employment. Check out these incredible stories, written in their words, of three individuals who, despite facing challenges, continue to thrive and excel in the workplace. Their passion, determination, and skills are among many that have paved the way for a more inclusive workforce. Let’s celebrate their achievements and their journeys together!
April
There and Back Again: An Unexpected Employment Journey
By: April Meredith
College degree? Check. Second language proficiency? Check. Cultural competency? Check. Leadership skills? Check. International experience? Check. I had done everything right to start and maintain a successful career. At least, that is what I thought until I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) at the age of 30. Although RP is a genetically inherited eye disease, my symptoms did not fully manifest until adulthood. Just as Bilbo Baggins, the fictional protagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, felt ill-fitted for his unexpected journey in Middle Earth, I felt unprepared for my new adventure – life with blindness.
As is commonly the case with people who lose substantial eyesight as an adult, my initial response was panic. The RP diagnosis triggered my pre-existing anxiety and depression. Overwhelming thoughts of progressive sight loss further traumatized me. I began mentally checking off all the things I could no longer do and all the dreams I would not fulfill. It seemed the challenges were too great. My plans for a bright future in an illustrious career were literally and figuratively fading before my eyes.
Fortunately, not all hope was lost. I took a much-needed break from working to regroup and reassess my personal and professional goals. Like Bilbo while on his trek, I discovered an inner strength to rise above the hardships. I sought vocational rehabilitation training and rebuilt my network. I found true friendship and support not in Dwarves, but in blind peers. I received guidance from rehab instructors, social workers, and others in the disability services field. Bilbo mustered courage and cleverly utilized his gifts to confront Smaug, the dragon, and assist his companions in defeating the giant beast. Similarly, my loved ones and colleagues aided me in slaying my dragons of insecurity, sadness, and fear. The three-year process was long and difficult yet rewarding and inspiring.
With my regained confidence and enhanced skills, I was ready for the next leg of my journey – the job hunt. By this point, I was fully aware of the treacherous terrain ahead of me. The unemployment rate for blind job-seekers stood at about 70%, even higher when the underemployed blind workers were calculated. People with disabilities made up the largest minority group in the world and yet was also the least recruited in the job market. Over a two-year period, I submitted more than 100 resumes, cover letters, and applications. I secured promising interviews. I lost a good fight and was legitimately turned down for some positions. However, I also faced employers with questionable inquiries into how I navigate with a white cane or access a computer using a screen reader and encountered blatant discriminatory hiring practices. Finding, securing, and maintaining gainful employment is always tough, but extra arduous as a person with multiple disabilities. Still, I was resolute to complete my mission to reclaim my career like Bilbo remained steadfast on his quest with the Dwarves to reclaim Lonely Mountain.
These experiences actually made me more determined to not accept defeat. By embracing my blindness and invisible disabilities, I had become resilient beyond my imagination. In fact, I had not only developed a passion for advocacy, but also gained a desire to work in disability services. My career change from business to education and now to human rights was certainly unforeseen; but the most surprising aspect was realizing that I had been nudged down this path my entire life. I had always recognized the potential in others, mentored peers through good and bad times, volunteered at numerous disability-related events, enjoyed research and sharing the results, had a heart for disadvantaged populations, and loved serving a greater purpose. Eventually, when I was offered employment at Tennessee Disability Pathfinder as a Statewide Information and Referral Coordinator, I jumped at the opportunity. My employment journey has taken some unexpected twists, and I am sure more career adventures are to come, but I am incredibly grateful to have found a professional home where I can continue to learn and grow. To quote Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, “’Go back?’ he thought. ‘No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!’”
Mary
My Employment Journey
By: Mary Ben
Interviewed and Edited by Jennifer Padron, Multicultural Services Coordinator
Mary’s road to her current job was not easy, but she knows there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mary is a person with an intellectual disability. Originally from Ethiopia-Africa. Mary does not know how to read or write, and has problems remembering things. Finding a job was a challenge because Mary didn’t feel accepted, happy and productive in a job. Mary worked for a few organizations until she found the right fit. Mary is working at Goodwill. Mary is a part-time Housekeeping Associate at 
Goodwill. She is happy with her colleagues and supervisor. Mary feels like Goodwill provides opportunities for individuals with a disability. Mary has worked hard to overcome barriers and has quickly advanced in the workplace. Mary interacts with the customers, assists customers, and assists the Shift Leader. Mary feels accepted and included. Mary continues “I advise that others with disabilities not get discouraged. Be patient.” Mary is a prime example of how people with a disability can do the job.
I hope this story will empower more individuals with a disability. As we know people with disabilities struggle more than people without disabilities when it comes to finding a job. Many fear negative judgment, lack of accessibility in workplaces, reasonable accommodations, and language discrimination.
Ernest
Deaf & Disenchanted
By: Ernest Burse
Transcribed & edited by Sheena Adams-Avery, CDT, CDP
Seems like everyone has an employment story, and I’m no different. However, living with a disability, makes my story a little more complex than the average guy, I guess. Living with a disability can sometimes make things difficult, especially when trying to find a job. However, it has taught me so much about myself, my abilities, and my strengths. And although life is pretty good, there’s been sometimes when I’ve been disappointed and felt dissatisfied and disenchanted while on my employment journey.
So, here’s my story…
Deaf
I was actually born with the ability to hear. But after living through some traumatic circumstances at a very young age, by age six, things started to sound a little funny. I was taken from my home and placed in foster care several times until I met my last foster mother. My foster mother was the first person to notice that I had difficulty hearing. Prior to that everyone just considered me to be “a little slow,” as they would say. At age 7, I was diagnosed (or should I say misdiagnosed) with emotional trauma, which was deemed to be the cause of my “selective” hearing loss.
My foster mother, who (along with my foster dad) later adopted my older brother and I, didn’t believe the diagnosis and took me to a specialist in another city. Having gone so many years undiagnosed my hearing was completely damaged. Thank goodness for finally having a great mother who was unyielding in her advocacy for me. She was instrumental in my having surgery, getting me hearing aids, put me in speech classes, and taught me and her entire family sign language. She never treated me differently and told me that despite my not being able to hear, I could accomplish anything.
Disappointed
Despite losing my hearing, my childhood after age 7 or 8 was great and I believed I could do anything. Living in a small community with nine older siblings, lots of nieces and nephews, and other foster children, helped to reinforce that. So, at age 15, I asked if I may get a job in the city because I wanted to pay for my own gym shoes to help my now aging and widowed, adopted mother who was retired and living on a fixed income. After receiving permission, I set off on a journey that would lead me to some great disappointments.
Job after job, the hiring manager or hiring team, would take one look at me with my hearing aids and a speech disability and determine before I got through an interview that I could not do the job, despite the fact that I’m actually pretty intelligent if I do say so myself. I spent all of my teen years without having a job, while my brother, some of my nieces and nephews and friends would get jobs easily. Then when I became an adult, I applied for full-time employment at several companies and was turned down time after time. So, you can imagine the disappointment I felt trying to be a young man and wanting to take responsibility for myself.
Dissatisfied
Not having too much luck finding a job, I worked odd jobs over the years, where I would get paid a little here and there. None of these jobs really required much skill but it allowed me to make money and help out at home. My mom, assisted me in getting more social security for my disability, so I did have steady income, but a man is supposed work, right? I’m not going to lie; it was a little hard to often feel like I wasn’t good enough to get a job. That kind of thinking can really take a toll on a person’s mental health.
Luckily, after years of trying to get a steady job, finally someone took interest in my abilities, and I started working for an auto shop. I was so happy to have a full-time job, so I could live independently. However, despite what people thought of me when I was younger, my mother told me I was smart and could do anything. I just felt that I could do more with my life. This led to so many heightened emotions and left me feeling quite dissatisfied with the work I was doing.
Disenchanted
Well after years of trying to “better” myself, meeting my girlfriend, going from job to job, and trying to build a life, one day I received notification about the possibility of losing my benefits because of my employment. Now that’s a story for another day! Yet, here I was again, my journey to employment would be met with some difficulty. Needless to say, my faith in equity in employment is disenchanted if not disillusioned. But I remained hopeful and started fixing cars on my own. Isn’t that something? My niece said it’s a fancy word called an “entrepreneur.” That makes me feel good.
Despite all of my difficulties and the many disappointments, I still have hope for the generations to come. If I can do it with very little resources, imagine what can be done with the resources that are out there now for the generations after me. My mother used to say, “God does not put on us more than we can bear,” and “whatever we go through can be a testimony to help others.” I believe that with my whole heart.
Despite all the hardships that I’ve gone through on my journey to equitable employment, I’ve lived a decent life. God has been good. I have been able to provide for my children and my family. And as I lay in this hospital bed after a debilitating stroke, while my niece transcribes my words and hopefully makes them sound better, I realize that although my story may not be all roses and rainbows, it is a story of resilience and perseverance. Although it may have been a bumpy journey, it’s my disability employment journey.
I’m proud of every step I took on this journey and didn’t give up.
Signing off,
Ernie