Finding My Way Back to Work: A Journey of Fear, Perseverance, and Purpose Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month through my personal story.
​By Marissa Shaw | The Mobility Mentor


October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month — a time to celebrate workers with disabilities and to reflect on what true inclusion means.
For me, this month feels deeply personal. After decades of education, advocacy, and hesitation, I finally started my first official part-time job in my 50s — and it’s changing how I see myself and my place in the world.

My Story: From Education to UncertaintyI’ve spent years preparing for this moment. I earned my Bachelor’s degree, then my Master’s, believing those credentials would open the doors I had worked so hard for. Instead, I often found those doors tightly closed.
Sometimes, I was told I wasn’t “qualified enough.” Other times, people said directly that they didn’t want to accommodate my disability. Hearing those words again and again wore on me. It wasn’t that I doubted my ability — it was that others refused to see it.

The Fear Beneath the SurfaceFor many of us with disabilities, there’s another quiet fear that shapes our choices: the fear of losing our benefits. Working can be a risk — one that might jeopardize essential supports like healthcare or personal care assistance.
So, even though I wanted to work, I often stayed on the sidelines. I told myself it was safer not to try than to lose everything I depended on. But inside, that decision left me restless. I wanted to contribute. I wanted to grow. I wanted to prove that I was more than my fears.

Finally Stepping ForwardWhen I finally accepted a part-time job, I was nervous — but also proud. This wasn’t just about earning a paycheck. It was about reclaiming a part of myself that I had long buried under doubt.
Now, every workday feels like a small victory. Every time I clock in, I remind myself that I’ve overcome years of rejection, fear, and uncertainty to be here. It’s a powerful reminder that courage doesn’t always roar; sometimes it whispers, “Try again.”

What This Month Means to MeNational Disability Employment Awareness Month isn’t just a government campaign or a hashtag — it’s a reminder that people with disabilities have talent, education, and passion that deserve to be seen.
We need workplaces that recognize ability before assumption, and opportunity before limitation. Because when people with disabilities are included, everyone benefits.
If my story helps even one person see what’s possible — whether it’s an employer rethinking what inclusion looks like, or a person with a disability daring to apply for that first job — then I’ve done something meaningful.

A Message to My ReadersTo anyone standing where I once stood — fearful, uncertain, and waiting for the “right time” — please hear this:
It’s never too late to begin again.
Your story matters. Your skills matter. And you deserve to be part of the workforce, not waiting outside its doors.
This month and beyond, let’s keep pushing for inclusion, accessibility, and understanding. Together, we can change the narrative — one opportunity at a time.

Call to Action
​If this story resonates with you, share it with someone who might need encouragement today.
Subscribe to The Mobility Mentor for more stories, tools, and insights about living, working, and thriving with a disability.

Because when we rise, we lift others with us.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is finding its way into nearly every part of modern life—healthcare, hiring, education, and now, public benefit systems.
For people with disabilities, this shift could be both an opportunity and a threat.
As someone who has spent decades navigating programs like Social Security, Medicaid, and Section 8 housing—both personally and alongside others in the disability community. I see the promise of AI. But I also see the danger.
The real question is: Will AI be used to make public benefits more accessible, or will it create yet another wall between us and the support we need to survive?

The Potential Benefits If Done Right. 
In an ideal world, AI could make our benefit systems more inclusive:

• Faster processing for disability claims or housing applications that currently take months or years.
• Accessible application portals that work with screen readers, speech-to-text, and other assistive tech.
• 24/7 help from AI chatbots that answer questions without the endless wait times.

For individuals who already manage medical appointments, care schedules, and ongoing paperwork, these improvements could be life-changing.

However, there are risks we can’t ignore. 
Automation has already harmed vulnerable communities.

• In Michigan, an AI-based unemployment system falsely accused tens of thousands of people of fraud—leading to garnished wages, drained bank accounts, and years of stress.
• In the Netherlands, an AI welfare fraud detection program was shut down after courts found it discriminated against low-income neighborhoods.

These real-world examples show the risks when AI gets it wrong:

1. Built-in Bias: If the data AI learns from is biased, it will carry that bias forward—leading to more denials for people with complex or “invisible” disabilities.
2. No Clear Appeals: With a human caseworker, you can ask questions. With a machine? You may never know why you were denied.
3. Fewer Human Caseworkers: Agencies may cut staff, leaving fewer people who understand the nuance of disability claims.
4. Privacy Risks: Sensitive medical and personal data could be at risk in large-scale AI systems.

How We Protect Ourselves and Our Rights
AI doesn’t have to be the villain. But to make it a true ally, we need:

• Transparency:  Clear explanations of how decisions are made.
• Bias Audits: Independent testing before these systems go live.
• Human Oversight: AI should assist, not replace, trained caseworkers.
• Community Input: People with disabilities must help design and test these systems.

Your Voice Matters
Technology can be a lifeline but only if it’s built with us, not against us.
Our collective voices are the most powerful tool we have to make sure AI is used to lift us up, not shut us out.
Please share your experience in the comments or send me a message, let’s start the conversation.

Welcome to Mobility Mentor, where we roll with purpose, push past assumptions, and throw a little sass in the face of ableism. Disability isn’t a tragedy—it’s a culture. A vibe. A community. We come with jokes, and a fierce streak of defiance. Because let’s be real: It takes guts (and sometimes glitter) to navigate a world that wasn’t designed for us and still show up fabulous.
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We’re rewriting the narrative here. Tired of those syrupy “inspiration” posts that treat our survival like a miracle? Same. We don’t exist to be anyone’s life lesson. We exist because we’re human—and humans come with flaws, brilliance, pain, power, and style. Some of us with power chairs. Some with white canes. Some with brilliant neurodivergent minds. All of us with value.
So let’s talk sass.
Sass is truth wrapped in humor.  It’s the “Watch me” when someone doubts our capacity to lead, work, parent, or dream big.
It’s storytelling that mixes rage with joy and turns barriers into punchlines.
We use sass to protect ourselves. To advocate. To connect.
We use it to call out injustice and say, “You will not erase me with silence or shame.”
We use it to celebrate each other—loudly, proudly, and often with a snort-laugh or a sharp comeback.
Disability sass is survival. It’s love. It’s culture.
We are not here to be pitied, fixed, or erased.
We are here to lead, build, create, and kick some serious ass—sometimes literally, often metaphorically.
So if you’re here for that soft, shiny disability representation with tiny violins and a tragic piano soundtrack you might want to think again.
 If you’re here for the fire! The sparkle! The truth!
Welcome. Pull up your wheels, your walker, your voice.
We’ve been waiting for you.

Action Steps:

• Share your own stories with humor and honesty. Representation matters—and so does realness.
• Follow creators in the disability community who are rewriting the script with sass and smarts. (Including me the Mobility Mentor.)
• Challenge ableism with wit and wisdom. Your voice is powerful.
• And always—always—remember: You don’t have to be anyone’s inspiration. Just be your brilliant self.

​Imagine a world where every sidewalk has a gap too wide to cross, where every classroom door is closed to you, and every job interview ends before it begins—not because of your skills, but because of your wheelchair, your cane, your voice, or your silence.
For millions of Americans with disabilities, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 has been the bridge over those gaps—the law that quietly, firmly says: You belong here, too.

The Power of One LawSection 504 may be just a few paragraphs in a statute book, but its impact has been transformational. It was the first federal civil rights law to protect people with disabilities from discrimination. Because of it:

• A child who is Deaf has an interpreter in the classroom.
• A woman with chronic pain can adjust her work schedule to manage flare-ups.
• A veteran with PTSD can access therapy through a federally funded clinic.
• A student with a learning disability receives coursework in a format they can comprehend.

In essence, Section 504 whispers the same promise to every person with a disability: You are not invisible. You are protected. You are powerful.

 What’s at Risk?The possible repeal or weakening of Section 504 would be a devastating blow—not just to policy, but to dignity. Without it, we risk returning to an era where discrimination against people with disabilities goes unchecked. Where ramps disappear, interpreters are denied, and opportunity dries up like water in a forgotten well.
We must ask ourselves: Who are we if we do not stand up for the right to exist fully, freely, and equally?

 What Does Section 504 Do?Here are a few key protections it guarantees:

• Reasonable Accommodations: Making workplaces, schools, and healthcare facilities accessible.
• Program Accessibility: Ensuring physical and digital spaces are navigable for all.
• Effective Communication: Providing materials in Braille, large print, audio, or sign language.
• Non-Discrimination: Protecting access to education, employment, and healthcare.

These aren’t luxuries—they are lifelines.

🖋️ A Call to ActionEvery great movement begins with a voice. Today, let that voice be yours.

• 📞 Call your elected officials and urge them to protect and strengthen Section 504.
• 📣 Share your story about how this law has impacted your life or your loved ones.
• 🤝 Support disability rights organizations working to preserve civil rights and advance equity.
• 📚 Educate others—write, speak, post, and raise awareness.

💬 Final Thoughts: A Promise Worth KeepingSection 504 is more than law—it’s a promise to future generations. A promise that says you will be seen, you will be supported, and you will have the chance to thrive.
Let’s not break that promise. Let’s rise to defend it—with compassion, with courage, and with conviction.
Because accessibility is not charity—it’s justice.
And justice must never be optional.

#SaveSection504 #DisabilityRights #AccessibilityForAll

By Marissa Shaw | The Mobility Mentor

Okay, folks, let's talk about something that really hits home. Across the whole country, programs that literally keep millions of seniors and people with disabilities afloat are getting squeezed, capped, or just plain cut. We're talking about everything from in-home care to crucial therapies and even basic stuff like food delivery. Things are changing fast, and honestly? Not in a good way. Let's dive into what's going down at both the federal and state levels and how it could impact you, wherever you call home.
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🇺🇸 D.C. Drama: The National Picture
Medicaid / HCBS Service caps, eligibility tightening, provider rate cuts
SSI / SSP Monthly benefit reductions and asset limits reinstated
Therapies for Children ABA and early intervention therapy severely limited
Adult Day Programs Alzheimer's and dementia care centers being closed or defunded
Meals on Wheels / LIHEAP Reductions in food delivery and heating assistance
Legal & Peer Advocacy Funding cuts halt vital legal support for people with disabilities

Washington is talking about some serious cuts. Like, really serious. Here’s what’s on the table:

• $880 Billion Gone from Medicaid Over 10 Years: Yeah, that's billion with a "B." This would smash:
  • Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
  • Nursing home support
  • Access to therapy for developmental and behavioral needs
• Tougher Rules and Work Requirements: Meaning it's going to be way harder for people to actually qualify for help.
• Goodbye to Vital Programs? Think Meals on Wheels, Adult Protective Services, help with long-term care, and even heating assistance for low-income folks (LIHEAP). All could be on the chopping block.

These aren't just numbers on a page. These are services that keep people out of institutions and alive at home. Cutting them? That's devastating.


🏛️ State by State: A Mess Across the Map

While the feds set the stage, states are making some tough calls that hit us right where we live.

Widespread Cuts: Over 20 states are already slashing:

• Medicaid benefits
• SSI payments
• Dental, vision, and home care
• Therapy programs in schools

Let's Get Specific

• California: 30% cut to in-home help, slashing benefits, freezing  ( Medicaid ) cutting Alzheimer's programs.   
• Maryland: $200 million cut to disability services, some restored, but long-term help still shaky.
• Minnesota: Huge cuts to human services, nursing home funding, and therapies.
• Texas: Big loss of funding for school-based Medicaid services.
• Indiana: Caps on autism therapy, less pay for family caregivers.
• NJ, MS, AR: Legal advocates are turning people away—they simply don’t have the money.
• AZ & CO: Big limits on therapy for young kids with disabilities.

📉 What's Really at Risk?

🧭 Why This Affects You
Even if your state hasn't announced cuts yet, those federal changes are going to ripple down. Get ready for:

• Less money for home support
• Harder Medicaid rules
• Fewer providers taking Medicaid

This is a big, nationwide change, and it’s happening now.

 So, What Can We Do?

1. Watch Your State Budget: Cuts often happen quietly.
2. Call Your Lawmakers: Share your story—it matters!
3. Support Local Nonprofits: They pick up the pieces when the system fails.
4. Join Advocacy Groups: Together, we're louder.
5. Stay Informed and Speak Up: Knowledge is power!

Social services are not just "nice-to-haves." They're lifelines. They keep seniors in their homes, help people with disabilities live with dignity, and show that we care about each other. We need to make our voices heard. We need to fight for these programs.


👉 Want to know what’s happening in your area? Drop a comment or shoot me a message. I'll help you find resources, connect with groups, and stay in the loop. We’re in this together.
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