(Dis)ability On One Hand…Life On The Other…

If you’re joining us for the first time or have returned for some education, inspiration or motivation…Welcome! Thank you for joining us as we continue journeying from one side of the workspace, to the other! Our hope is that there is something about my journey through the Ticket-To-Work Program (MEO Style) that will be helpful to those with (dis)abilities and their support network.

Those of us with (dis)abilities, and those who are a part of our support network, know more than well that the world does not stop, nor does it slow down, because of our (dis)ability. The world can move pretty fast, and even faster, at times. And so, although we don’t always need them, it is comforting to know that if we needed a reasonable accommodation to equal the playing field, the reality of it could make a world of difference on our pathway to truly live again and not just exist.

You will hear me, often, make a distinction between living and existing. They aren’t just words that I randomly use; I experienced the difference between the two, after (dis) attached itself to some of my abilities. So, I am very intentional about the distinction of those two words and the experiences that accompany them. The opportunity that the Ticket-To-Work Program provided, and continues to provide, was my pathway back to living again and I’m very grateful for its existence. It is a game changer for those of us with (dis)abilities, those we love and who love us back. Because, whatever affects us, affects all who are connected to us.

The job search phase via the Ticket-to-Work Program, is a different experience for each of us. For some of us, finding a good fit isn’t much of a challenge. Others of us may have too little or too much experience for the job we’re targeting. Maybe we used to work in the community and now we can only work from home (WFH), which was my case. The job search phase for community and WFH have some distinct differences in the process and requirements.  I’m convinced that there were some jobs I didn’t get because of my level of experience in a WFH environment, but thank goodness for the appreciation that some companies have for transferrable skills. When you’ve said ‘good morning’ for 365 days X a few decades and you’ve worked most of your adult life, it = quite a bit of work experience. 😊 Don’t let that discourage you. The goal is to find a job that is a good fit for you. A good fit, means that it’s a job you can do with no, or reasonable, accommodations, while managing your (dis)ability to the best of your ability.

I continue to remind myself to take good care of myself and I am reminding you of the same. Because, if we don’t, it will impact our ability to gain and maintain employment. Once you’ve found a job that’s a good fit for you, your desire to work and take care of yourself, the best you can…grows and becomes more intentional. Because of life’s circumstances, we may have to work a job that’s not the best fit, but if we do, we should not stop looking for one that is a better fit.

The earth we live on, doesn’t stop rotating because we have a (dis)ability. Sometimes we have to accommodate it and through the Ticket-to-Work Program, ADA, corporations, non-profits, individuals, etc…some reasonable accommodations are provided for us. Reasonable doesn’t mean that we can’t do the job. If it’s a job that we applied for, it should be one that we can do, with a reasonable accommodation, if needed. It means that we have the skillset to do the job but may need an adjustment to enjoy the same employment opportunities and successes as others, without creating a hardship for the employer.

My first job back into the workspace, I needed a reasonable accommodation. Reasonable, in my case, meant that I struggled to manage my (dis)ability when I worked 8-hour straight shifts, so I needed a little adjustment in my schedule. Fortunately, the company I worked for started offering split shifts about the time my struggle became quite real. I had begun to question if I could work full-time, after making the decision to try. Although the process took much longer than I would prefer, it finally came through and was the difference maker in my ability to work full-time. The advice and support of my Employment Counselor was extremely helpful. She gave me instructions regarding the process and was there as my navigator. When I became frustrated with the snail’s pace of the process, she encouraged me through it.

Being in a space where our abilities are appreciated, beyond our (dis)abilities, encourages us to levels we may not have thought possible. To get back into the workspace, we need people who have a heart for people. We need people who hear and feel our hearts, to be the smooth patch when our path back to the workspace seems rocky. We have to remind ourselves that we can’t get there if we stop moving…we cannot find what we stop looking for! Our belief that we can, churns into determination and motivation used to get us there or at least, to a point of trying with all our might and being okay with that.

There are a lot of things about life that do not stop because we have a (dis)ability. So, we can’t stop either. No matter what we see, hear, feel or think, it’s important to believe that things will get better as we focus on what we need to do in order to press our way. No matter how hard the winds of life blow; sometimes the gusts are very strong, but we do what we can in between wind gusts, while intentionally and strategically leaning forward in the midst of them. And if the force of the wind pushes us back a bit…we lean in again, pressing forward. Wind gusts come as they may, but they don’t last forever. Continue to press.

Thank you for taking time out of your day to join us on this journey! We appreciate you and your time. Keep looking up and forward. Continue to move through whatever you need to move through to get to the other side of your Ticket and the winds of life.  Until next time…take good care of yourself!

 **If this is your first visit to our blog site, please feel free to visit previous blogs. If you’re interested in more information regarding applying for the MEO Ticket to Work Program…click here: https://myemploymentoptions.com/apply-now/