29 Stories Found
Showing stories 1 - 20 of 29
Results related to: Employment
Wesley (18), Blind, Smith County
“I don’t tell people I’m blind for starters. I don’t feel like it’s something they need to know. Type one people, when they do find out I’m blind, are just like, “Oh okay.” And then there’s type two, who instantly switch to baby mode, like I’m completely
helpless. ”
Alex K (17), Blind, Jefferson County
“People clearly treated him differently, and at times, it was very frustrating for Alex because he knew he was the same person he was before his diagnosis.
”
Beth (27), Cerebral Palsy, Davidson County
“No one is ever going to tell you that they are not going to hire you because you have a disability, but...
”
Pam (56), Muscular dystrophy, Davidson County
“Like many of us, Pam’s independence is the most important thing to her. ”
Seth (23), Autism, Williamson County
“If Seth had waiver services, everything would change. He would have something to look forward to and something to do.
”
Mark (42), Autism, Davidson County
“I feel like if we got waiver services today it would be like being let out of prison.
”
Edward (24), Down syndrome, Davidson County
“My favorite part of my job is just getting things done and having a smile and having a good attitude. I am a go-getter.
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Jess (25), Down syndrome, Shelby County
“That is probably the biggest worry of any parent who has a child with special needs. You want them to outlive you in one sense, but then you wonder what will happen.
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Margo (27), Katherine Ann (25), developmentally delayed, Shelby County
“I am not a planner but my sister and my niece wish that I was since they might be guardians one day. I must plan for the future care of my daughters. This is very hard for me.
”
Carol (63), Blind, Davidson County
“If the general public only understood that with training and minimal assistance a blind person can live a full life, things would be so much easier for us. It's the attitudes we encounter that make our success more difficult than it should be.
”
Deborah (42), Cerebral Palsy, Shelby County
“There’s not too much for people with disabilities to do in Memphis. To me, I think it could be better.
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Sharmane (38), Down syndrome, Davidson County
“Sharmane’s IQ cannot predict how much she has been able to achieve and learn.”
Kevin (12), Autism, Shelby County
“Kevin is looking forward to working just like anyone else.”
Emily (11), spina bifida, Davidson County
“Lisa and Jeff teach Emily about her diagnoses and medications so that she can be a strong advocate for herself when they are not around.”
Eric (23), Down syndrome, Williamson County
“If it doesn’t seem right, I don’t care who’s telling you, if it’s not right, you make it right. You have to make it work. You do whatever you need to do. You need to always understand what your rights are and what your child's rights are, or else you may
get short changed.”
Matthew (11) John Michael (7), Other, Dickson County
“Because the disability is part neurological and part developmental, it’s a piece of a lot of different puzzles. I don’t think that anyone has really studied it enough to know what it is.”
Kelly S (50), Traumatic Brain Injury, Robertson County
“The powers that were, at the time, suggested I couldn't be a massage therapist because of my brain injury.”
Frank (33), Traumatic Brain Injury, Davidson County
“Frank always credits the various state and federal programs that have supported him on his new path; the Americans with Disabilities Act, Social Security, Vocational Rehabilitation, Disabled Student Services, and the Federal Workforce Recruitment Program.”
Sharmane (38), Down syndrome, Davidson County
“Sharmane is 38 now, and I would love to take her back to those doctors and nurses who told me she wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything, and show them how wrong they were!”
Michael (43), Other, Davidson County
“My basic hope and prayer is that I outlive my son.”