Briony Mikell
Times have been difficult for many during this pandemic. Unemployment has skyrocketed, and the pandemic has affected everyone in a thousand different ways. As a twenty-seven-year-old African American woman with Asperger’s syndrome, I feel like I should help my community by sharing what I’ve seen and learned. I hope that in sharing this information and my own personal experiences, I can help those who are struggling right now.
There are many that don’t have jobs right now, especially those with disabilities. Many are having a hard time getting hired because Coronavirus protocols like social distancing limit the number of employees in workplaces. Those who have disabilities and haven’t had an official paying job may be feeling despair at this time, but there is hope.
Before, those who had disabilities, mental and physical were discriminated against in the workplace. Then President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act on August 26, 1990. The bill made it illegal to discriminate against those with disabilities. The Illinois State Department’s Ticket to Work helps those with disabilities in their work journey. The “Ticket to Work” program is run by the social security administration and is available to those with disabilities seeking employment throughout the country. There is an application process before you can be assisted.
The one I’m with is called Best Buddies and I’ve been with them for over a year. Per their website, the mission of Best Buddies is to be “a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).”
With their help, I’ve managed to get hired by a dog-sitting service, Urban Paws, just moved to Chicago. They were preparing to start, and I was ready to work there and then the Coronavirus hit. However, Best Buddies continues to help. Best Buddies is one of the biggest supporters of the disability community. They have continued to help many like me on brushing up on workplace protocols and teaching the new protocols due to the Coronavirus, like wearing masks. They also present opportunities to develop skills by offering online classes and to find other tools including teaching apps. Best Buddies also encourages the use of Indeed, LinkedIn, and Life Sherpa. I can say that Best Buddies has been a big help to me even in these dark times. I’m exploring my options, virtually meeting new people, and polishing the skills I’ve gained my life.
There is also a program associated with National Louis University in Chicago. It’s a two-year program called P.A.C.E. I attended National Louis University in Skokie, Illinois. The P.A.C.E. Program helps those with disabilities learn skills in functioning independently. We learn to communicate efficiently, solve problems, and navigate the city using public transportation and we have internships that teach us on how to function in a workplace.
I’m sure there were a lot of changes after I did my two years, but the goals remain the same. I remembered a good deal of it and applied it as I worked with Best Buddies. I learned that even if you are good at interviewing, dressing professionally, and talking and acting appropriately, it’s always good to practice and keep the habit of practicing those skills.
I also volunteer at PAWS Chicago’s Lincoln Park Adoption Center. I have volunteered at the animal shelter twice a week since 2017, and I love it there because I love animals. I’ve learned that volunteering is a good way to brush up on workplace skills, but it also helps relieve some of the stress of COVID-19. Volunteering can even help with the hiring process. This is my process and I’m not saying you should do everything the way I did it. However, I recommend those who haven’t activated their Ticket to Work to do so. It will help get the hiring process started. Those who are part of the communities that help those with disabilities, like Best Buddies, so don’t give up. The hiring process may have slowed to a stall right now, but it won’t last. Hopefully, the new year will bring a new wave of hope for everyone.
Sites and Sources: Disability & Employment: A Timeline https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/ada30/timeline
PACE Program Mission Statement: https://nl.edu/pace/#:~:text=Path%20to%20Academics%2C%20Community%20and,intellectual%2C%20learning%20and%20developmental%20disabilities.
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