How Do Our Society Feel About Disabled People Working?

Disabled People Would Like To Feel Like They Are A Part Of The Society

Many disabled people feel as if they aren’t a part of today’s society and I think that they shouldn’t have to feel that way. These are the things that keep people with disability up in the middle of the night. I have a disability and let me tell you that I feel embarrass when people stare at me. I kept wondering if I would ever find a job, and like any other disable person that I have know is also faced with the same consequences with these decisions and they often wonder what to do.

I came to live here in the USA in 2006 and I thought that things were going to be better for me here. I must have applied to several jobs on the internet and god answered my prayers and I finally landed an interview. The lady I saw the minute I came through the door seems frustrated as I approached her at the front desk. I could tell that she have never dealt with a person with a disability before mush less finding that person a job. She looked at my companion as if he was the person looking for a job and I was only there for the ride. She looked surprised when I told her that I was the person who came for the interview. I guess it was pretty unusual to see a person with a disability coming in for a interview and looking for a full time job with a recently-acquired bachelor’s degree in Administration Office clerk, well, I’m certain that the career counselor found it challenging more than daunting…

Jobs seem to have gravitated naturally towards my other classmates. Some of whom had been recruited a few months before graduation, right after Christmas holidays. I have joined most of those federal agencies in New York and I have followed their personnel department advice and filled out my FS-171(the federal job application). However, I had recent job experience when I was living in Jamaica so I was confident that I could get a job. I had all my certificates that I have achieved over the years of studying. I had a decent GPA, and I was articulate, and I also was knowledgeable about the Communist bloc among other things and I was eager to start working.

After sending out so many applications this was the only place that consider me for an interview and I was hoping that I could prove to them that I have the qualification, experience, and the skills they are looking for in a candidate for this position. My boyfriend and my son thought that this could be my lucky break and I was kind a hoping so too. All my school mates have had luck when they joined employment agency. I kept my fingers crossed as I was being ushered into the career counselor’s office I knew at that moment that I was going to get lucky that day. As I kept eye contact with her while she searched through my credentials. I said to myself it was a good thing I didn’t mention that I had a disability on my resume because I probably wouldn’t have gotten an interview.

As I sat there wondering if my disability was going to keep me back in life. My disability begins to feel more like a handicap than a disability. I can’t believe that I spend almost four years in college and I won’t be able to utilize my skills. I spend all my life wondering if I would ever make it in today’s society. I would do all the house chores like cooking and cleaning and I have learned to cope with the demands of life. I even learn how to drive a car which was quite a challenge for me but I did it. All my life I wanted to live and work in an urban environment. That was the only reason why I decided to seek employment in New York because I thought that I would have a better chance of getting a government job.  

After the interview I had doubts that I would get that job but I was wrong I was called in for a second interview after two weeks has passed. Finally things started looking up for me now that I am working. My boyfriend and I decided to get married and I stopped working to have another baby. After two decades of being a stay at home mom I decided to go back to work I saw a better job opportunity and I took advantage of it and I actually got the job with ease. We bought a three bed room house closer to where I work and I am happier than I ever been in my life.

The main reason for writing this blog is to prove to my fellow disabled people like myself that you can make a life for yourself if you try hard enough. Don’t be discouraged about your disability because there is hope for everyone who are disable and want to work and make something out of their life than sitting down and feeling sorry for themselves. It’s your time to shine and prove to everybody that you can do it. Just get out there and don’t ever give up because there is hope. Life maybe a struggle sometimes but if you have the perseverance and the dedication you will make it. Don’t ever let your disability keep you down be strong in whatever you are doing and I would honestly say that you will get the result that you have been hoping for one day. You just have to keep trying no matter what the circumstances maybe, never give up that is my motto for today and I am wishing everybody who are struggling with a disability good luck in whatever you are pursuing and remember without god there is no life.