Yesterday morning I talked to my uncle on the phone, as we do almost every weekend. He asked if I was looking forward to starting classes at the local community college in the fall. I told him that I was excited as I could be after not attending college classes in person since 2019. COVID-19 is a concern of mine as well. I’ve rarely left my apartment for the past couple of years. I still wear a mask in public and don’t go out much.
After a bad experience at my last university, I’m nervous about what this fall will look like. I hope that it is not difficult to get the accommodations that I need for my disability. Constantly advocating for yourself gets exhausting. I shouldn’t have to fight for what I need.
I am still hopeful that I’ll find a part-time job by the end of the year. I can’t make too much money because it will affect my disability benefits. I’d like to have a little extra money to spend. It is difficult to live on SSI alone. I barely have enough to pay my bills every month. People shouldn’t be forced to live in poverty. I wouldn’t be able to afford rent without my friend’s help.
As my readers know, I’ve been looking for work since 2019. I haven’t found anything. It is challenging to remain positive when you are unemployed. I want to work so badly. Employers often don’t want to interview me once I tell them that I have Cerebral Palsy. This is extremely frustrating to me. Last week alone I received six rejections from employers. Hopefully, I’ll be able to work in the future. On a good note, I’ve recently received offers to write blog posts for two nonprofit organizations.
Remaining optimistic as a disabled person is sometimes challenging. It is hard to live in such an ableist society. I want to live in a world where everyone is treated equally. Disabled people worldwide deserve equal opportunities. We want to included in everyday life, and we shouldn’t have to fight for this right.