Employment: A Community Effort

By Brandy Dickerson  

Many people with physical and learning disabilities desire to work, but unfortunately, they remain unemployed. Many individuals with disabilities must obtain education for an employer even to consider them for employment. Furthermore, some employers have preconceived ideas about people with disabilities, such as being a liability to the organization and lacking skills or the ability to complete tasks. Therefore, the potential employer does not consider them in the hiring process or does not hire them.

At a young age, I knew I wanted a fulfilling career and most likely needed an education, so this was the path I embarked on. Vocational Rehabilitation provided financial assistance for my education, which led to me earning my business administration degree from Ambassador University, Big Sandy, Texas, in 1997. Despite having a college degree, I was unsuccessful in finding work independently. Less than a year after I finished college, I began to work in the family business as an office assistant. This entry level position was an important stepping stone in my career because it gave me some experience to make note of on my resume. Someone gave me an opportunity for some experience!

My journey with employment has been like many others with disabilities. By being born with cerebral palsy and a learning disability, my odds for gainful employment were against me. However, I learned from my experiences that having disabilities does not define my ability to have a successful career, even though some employers may have believed so.

That first job opportunity, along with the assistance of Vocational Rehabilitation and an Employment Consultant (EC) through Easterseals Crossroads, led me into other professional positions. In 2007, my EC helped me obtain a position at a nonprofit disability service in an independent living center in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was thankful I was hired despite needing more specific experience for the position. Someone else gave me an opportunity!

While working at the independent living center, I learned about various disabilities and others’ experiences. I also learned about the diversity and uniqueness of individuals who have been diagnosed with the same disabilities, including one of the founders of the organization, who has cerebral palsy.

A prevalent theme in my work with people with disabilities is that they want opportunities to obtain independence or autonomy, just as I did. My life experiences and challenges due to having disabilities have allowed me to provide mentoring and peer support to others with disabilities. More specifically, it has allowed me to provide help in gaining access to necessary resources and essential life skills that promote empowerment to achieve their individual goals, whatever those may be. For example, a few people I assisted transitioned from a nursing home to independent living. In addition, I supported some individuals to obtain home modifications, employment, housing, food, clothing, benefits, skills to budget finances, and many other individual goals.

Throughout my career, I have supported people at the individual level and provided support at the community level. For example, I started disability support groups, provided disability awareness and resources to the public, and led the Back Home Alliance for Indianapolis project that assisted people with disabilities in making changes in housing that were affordable, accessible, and integrated.

Working for an independent living center allowed me to help others and helped me. Through my work there, I came to believe that all things are possible in living the life I desire, even with a disability. I bought a home in 2009 and decided to explore another goal: to determine if I could successfully earn my real estate license. In 2013, I took a real estate course. I knew earning the license would be challenging because of my learning disability. Not to be discouraged, I read the real estate book three times, studied other students’ notes, and practiced with flash cards. My efforts paid off because I passed the Indiana state exam on the first try. I cried tears of joy when I received the passing grade and realized I am more intelligent than I have given myself credit for. Throughout my life, so many people have believed I am limited in my capabilities because of my cerebral palsy and learning disability. This time, I gave myself this opportunity!

In 2014, I left the independent living center and worked full-time in real estate with other family members.  As a broker realtor, I learned how to maintain potential home buyers by building relationships with them, which led to earning their trust to guide them in purchasing a home. The most fulfilling job as a broker realtor was seeing the buyer at the closing table and knowing they finally owned their house. We gave each other an opportunity!

In my career journey, I lost jobs along the way. Sometimes, I lost a job because physical lifting was required, and I could not perform the task, or the job required me to work fast, which my motor skills would not allow me to do. I asked for job accommodations, but none were ever available. All these experiences with different positions and careers led me to miss working in the nonprofit world and working with people with disabilities. I relate to individuals with disabilities because I understand their hardships. It was time for me to provide opportunities!

I knew I needed to give back. So, I applied for a position at Easterseals Crossroads, the organization that helped me find a job years ago. In January 2016, I was hired as a retention specialist, which has led to my becoming the lead retention specialist. My responsibilities have included supporting individuals with disabilities to maintain employment, which meant that I needed to learn the perspective of the employer and the employee. I have educated employers about disability awareness, accommodations, and how to work together. I also taught the consumer (employee) how to follow the rules and procedures of the company or agency. By working with the employer and employees, I have helped many individuals with disabilities keep their jobs. The employer and employee are giving each other opportunities!

Not only have I given back through my career at Easterseals Crossroads, but also through community organizations and activities. For example, I have gained appointments on the Council and Leadership Committee for the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities for the State of Indiana. I have also participated in disability awareness campaigns on social media, local media, articles, and a master’s program for counselor education. In recognition of my efforts and work for the disability community, I received the Indiana state and national level Lois Curtis Award from the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE)

From this article, I hope employers have noted reasons to consider hiring individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, it is crucial to be cautious of preconceived ideas and overgeneralizations from precluding individuals with disabilities from hiring considerations. As indicated in my personal life experiences and the common theme found in my career, when provided an opportunity, individuals with disabilities are not only willing and capable of fulfilling the responsibilities and obligations of job requirements but also assets rather than liabilities.

 

“Everyone has something to contribute to this world. It’s just a matter of being given that opportunity to do so.” — Grace Hightower

Image Description: Brandy is a white woman with blonde, medium length hair. She is smiling, wearig a red blouse. She is standing in front of a grey boundground with her hands in her back pockets.

 

Image Description: Brandy with blonde, medium length hair. She is smiling, wearig a red blouse. She is standing in front of a grey boundground with her hands in her back pockets.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brandy


Brandy Dickerson has been working in the disability community since 2007. She is presently the Lead Retention Specialist at Easterseals Crossroads in Indianapolis. She specializes in helping people with disabilities and acts maintain employment, using her personal experience with cerebral palsy. Additionally, she serves on the Indiana Governors Council for People with Disabilities and acts as council secretary.

 

 

 

Embracing Life’s Challenges: The Journey of an Autistic Person with Epilepsy, Autism, and ADHD

Written and Art by Ash Ward

Image Description: A disabled trans male being told He's enough and the person saying that is making him feel important. Surrounded by the disabilities he has, the pain of having them are fading farther away once he hears those words of encouragement.


 Image Description: A disabled trans male being told He’s enough and the person saying that is making him feel important. Surrounded by the disabilities he has, the pain of having them are fading farther away once he hears those words of encouragement.

 Living with disabilities is a unique journey that shapes one’s perspective and invites a myriad of experiences. Today, I tell you my life story of navigating through the complexities of autism, epilepsy, and ADHD. It was a long process, and I surely struggled, but it became harder and the road to where I am today was, indeed, bumpy.

 • Discovering Differences

From an early age, I began to notice my innate differences from my peers. My initial encounters with autism manifested in distinct communication and interaction patterns. Socializing became an intricate dance that required both patience and understanding from those around me. Despite these challenges, I found solace in my burgeoning creativity and unique perspectives on the world.

 • Epilepsy’s Unpredicted Twists

As life unfolded, epilepsy unexpectedly entered the stage, adding another layer to my journey. Seizures brought forth uncertainty and fear, each episode altering their path momentarily. However, with resilience and support, I discovered ways to manage my condition, embracing life’s unpredictability with open arms. Medication played a huge part, but overcoming my fear helped.

 • The Dual Nature of ADHD

ADHD joined the ensemble, introducing a whirlwind of hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and difficulty concentrating. It challenged my ability to stay on task, especially in school, and sometimes made me feel restless in an environment designed for neurotypical individuals. Nevertheless, their ADHD became a catalyst for innovation, enabling me to approach my problems from unique angles and harness my boundless energy for creative pursuits.

 •The Obstacles

Life was far from smooth sailing, as societal stigmas and misconceptions surrounding disabilities often stood in the way of my progress. I faced educational barriers and workplace discrimination various points in their life. However, with determination, advocacy, and the invaluable support of friends, family, and mentors (staff in my previous and current homing situations), I overcame these obstacles.

 • Finding a Voice

In my quest for self-acceptance and resilience, I discovered an artistic outlet that allowed me to share their experiences. With writing, Drawing, or any creative medium, I was able to express my unique perspective on the world, enlightening society on the true nature of disabilities and eroding the boundaries between neurodiversity and the mainstream.

 • Embracing Neurodiversity

The journey towards self-acceptance led me to embrace the concept of neurodiversity. I became passionate advocates, fostering inclusivity and understanding within their communities. My experiences with epilepsy, autism, and ADHD gave me invaluable insights into the diverse tapestry of human existence and the beauty that lies within the differences we all possess.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ash Ward

I am Ash Ward. My pronouns are He/they and I am 23 years old. I enjoy drawing and listening to music. I like helping others and volunteering at animal shelters!

 

Image Description: Trans man with pink fluffy hair, hazel eyes and an anime shirt on Trans man with pink fluffy hair, hazel eyes and an anime shirt on


Image Description: Trans man with pink fluffy hair, hazel eyes and an anime shirt on Trans man with pink fluffy hair, hazel eyes and an anime shirt on

The Importance of Transportation for Disabled Peopl.

Ryan Robinson

Meanwhile, on the east side of town, an elderly man named Sam whispers, “I understand,” into the phone as a paratransit dispatcher explains why he’ll be late to dialysis due to issues with driver staffing. Sam doesn’t understand though and he can’t understand why people would play with his life.

       It’s 7:30 a.m. on November 1st in Indianapolis. The driveway outside Henry’s apartment complex where he waits with his guide dog Stanley is full of discarded candy wrappers that are wet from last night’s rain. Henry and Stanley have been waiting outside for an hour. Henry’s screen reader announces, “Your ride share has been cancelled, for the third time that morning as Stanley pulls hard at his harness, agitated from the wait. The  visually impaired executive at the place where Henry has just been hired advised prospective workers to avoid public buses when possible to “project an aura of dependability.” If Henry hadn’t heeded the executive’s advice, Stanley could be with him inside the warm office building right now.

On the westside,  a woman in a motorized wheelchair screams,“I don’t have $30,000 for a van,” at her boss who has just fired her for habitual lateness and indicated she might be able to keep her job if she could just get a lift-equipped vehicle and driver.

 

These scenarios are fictional, but these scenarios happen all the time. The nation’s car-centric mentality and infrastructure, coupled with anti-transit policies at the state and federal levels, have led to public transit agencies that are drastically underfunded, under-staffed, and unsupported. Many cities were drastically expanded in an outward direction after World War II and haven’t been updated since. This has largely meant very wide streets and few, if any sidewalks for pedestrians to get where they need to go. All across America, people with physical disabilities are dismissed from their jobs and late to critical medical appointments every day due to lack of adequate transportation options. The ADA is, in theory, is supposed to protect disabled people from this type of systemic discrimination, but it is clearly still there.

Even though public buses are now required to be accessible for people in wheelchairs, there are often equipment malfunctions, ill-trained drivers, and the afore-mentioned public infrastructure issues that make getting to and from bus stops impossible in some cases. This is where the paratransit system, which is door to door service, is supposed to come in and fill in those gaps. However, most paratransit systems receive their funding the same way as the public bus system, so they face the same short-comings of staffing, as well as route structures that either cause disabled people to ride around on the paratransit buses for hours or not get picked up at all. For example, IndyGo Access, the paratransit system in Indianapolis, reported an on-time performance rating of 74% in July, 2023, according to the August 2023 board report. To the uninitiated, that percentage doesn’t sound too bad, but keep in mind that that’s 26% of people who didn’t make it to their jobs, appointments, and leisure activities. This service is imperative because Uber and Lyft are not possible for everyone. Most cities do not have wheelchair accessible vehicles in their ride-share fleets, and many drivers are hostile towards service animals, often canceling rides without explanation.  This type of discrimination is expressly forbidden in the driver code of conduct, but it still often happens. This is what happened to Henry in our example above.

 

So, the question is, what can we do about this problem? The answer is simple. Public transit needs more funding and more backing on both the state and federal levels. Public transit needs to be seen as a vital part of our cities, not just a service to the poor and disadvantaged. As long as it is seen as a service to the poor and not an important part of our infrastructure, funding for these vital services will continue to fall through the cracks and we will continue to observe the status quo. Our cities need to allocate money and resources to upgrading infrastructure such as sidewalks, curb ramps, and accessible public bus stops, so that more people can use the regular buses and take some of the load off of the over-burdened paratransit systems. There need to be more micro-transit projects started in larger cities, such as accessible shuttles that will take people from outlying areas and drop them off at public bus stops, again making it so that more people can make use of the regular transit system instead of specialized vehicles coming directly to their homes. These are just a few starting points, as there is such a very long way to go to get transportation for disabled people right in this country. The most important thing to do, I believe, is try to get people in office who see these issues as important and worth their attention.

Many people think that it just doesn’t affect them, but it could someday be your mother in that wheelchair waiting in the cold for a bus that will never come, or your daughter who can no longer get a ride in a Lyft because she decided to partner with a dog guide. And even if we were to never interact with a disabled person in our day-to-day lives, we are all going to get old someday, and need a little more help than we do now. Let’s try to build a world where everyone has ready access to enjoy the fullness of their communities.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ryne Robinson

 

My name is Ryne Robinson, and I currently reside in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was born blind due to a genetic eye condition called Leber Congenital Amaurosis. My younger sister shares this condition and is also blind. I attended the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired from preschool through 12th grade. During this time, I participated in many extracurricular activities including track and field, swimming, and the forensics (speech) team, as well as playing the saxophone in the high school band. During my time at Ball State University, where I attended college, I met my wife, Stacye, who uses a power wheelchair due to cerebral palsy. Life took us in different directions at the time and we reconnected on social media years later, marrying in 2014 and subsequently moving to Indianapolis later that year. We use the city’s public busing system to get around, and for the most part it serves us well. However, there are gaps in coverage as well as service infrequencies that make it challenging to use at times, so I am an advocate for better regional transit for disabled people. We all deserve to get to our jobs, appointments, and recreational activities in a timely and dignified way.



Ryne is a white man.  He is wearing a dark red polo shirt. His reddish-blond hair is short except for a longer patch in the front.