Dis(ABILITY): This Is Why I Do What I Do.

On June 7th, I packed up my sister’s Mickey Mouse backpack for the last time. I piled up her lunchbox, her diaper bag, her communication device, and finally folded her extra small graduation cap and gown and placed them carefully on the top. Not a word was spoken; my sister hasn’t spoken in 22 years. 

She couldn’t have thanked me even if she had tried. Victoria was diagnosed with a unique mental and physical disability at the age of 2, causing her to remain non-verbal and struggle with fine motor skills even into adulthood. She additionally was found to have alopecia, a relatively rare disorder that caused her to lose all of her hair. For every hour that I spent at an athletic practice or at work, 2 hours were spent changing diapers, working to teach my sister to use a communication board, and helping her complete basic daily tasks that most people would take their ability to do for granted. That said, we’ve become accustomed to seemingly countless eyes following us as I accompany my bald, 4’10” sister waddling and humming down the street.

The day of my sister’s graduation from high school marked a major transition not only for Victoria but for my family as a whole. In a culture where one’s ability to communicate across oral and written platforms is considered indicative of one’s intelligence and potential, the end of a guaranteed free public education for Victoria marked the beginning of a lifelong struggle for access to basic respect. Despite her many abilities, her inability to communicate or live independently has caused her to be unable to pursue higher education or acquire a job; with two parents working during the day, the most “stimulating” option for Victoria is a 9-5 program that requires her to load items into a fridge for hours on end with little to no human interaction.

Victoria’s situation isn’t unique. For thousands of individuals with disabilities, the expiration of guaranteed free public education leaves them with few options as to what to do next. Having spent the last 4 years living on the edge of the historically African-American neighborhood of Harlem, I came to realize that institutionalized discrimination and limited access to education and adequate work are challenges that touch not only Americans with disabilities, but members of many minority communities and protected classes.

Because of my sister’s challenges, I was exposed to issues of diversity and inclusion at a young age with respect to disability. Listening to teachers develop IEPs and helping out in special education classes for as long as I can remember, fighting for accessibility and quality education for all people, regardless of background, became central goals of mine at a young age.

When I began my undergraduate career at Columbia, just a few blocks outside of the historically-African-American neighborhood of Harlem, it became abundantly clear that the same issues of accessibility and equality that I had witnessed with people with disabilities also are prevalent in their own way in other minority groups. My studies during my undergraduate time have focusing primarily on issues of race and ethnicity in American institutions, allowing me to pursue professional experiences that put me in a position to work towards real and permanent solutions for inequality not only for members of racial and ethnic minority groups, but for people met with discrimination on account of their religious beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identity, immigration status, or disability. My passion is ensuring every human being is given the equal opportunity to excel; not only is it the morally right thing to do, but from a business and political stance, it simply makes sense.

I am thrilled about the opportunity to participate in Adecco’s #CEO1Month bootcamp in 2 weeks and share my passion for diversity and inclusion with a group of talented and motivated future business leaders. Check out this article from DevEx for more information about inclusivity in the workforce: https://www.devex.com/news/from-csr-into-hr-disability-inclusion-in-the-workplace-93834