My name is Ricardo Graves. I was wrongfully terminated from the City of Roanoke after disclosing my ADHD diagnosis and requesting a reasonable work-from-home accommodation that would help me manage my condition and perform at my best.

Despite being a top performer and an active contributor to solutions—I was retaliated against.

Let’s be clear: I wasn’t just an employee showing up and clocking out.
I was deeply involved in the city’s mission.

I was a member of BRIDGE Council, a city-led initiative focused on building equity, engagement, and representation across departments. And just days before my termination, I delivered a full presentation on mental health in the workplace and setting healthy boundaries—a presentation that was well-received by staff and leadership alike.

And then?
I was fired.

The same city that invited me to speak on mental health,
The same city that said it valued equity and inclusion,
Turned around and punished me for needing what I was advocating for.

Let that sink in.

After disclosing my ADHD diagnosis and requesting flexibility to manage my symptoms, I was micromanaged, mischaracterized, and eventually terminated. What I needed was support. What I got was a target on my back.

But I wasn't the first—and I refuse to be the last.

Since coming forward, multiple current and former employees have reached out, sharing eerily similar stories:

Requests for accommodations being denied or ignored
Employees being pushed out quietly
Terminations without documentation
Retaliation masked as “performance issues”
📌 The same names appear over and over again:
Mary Sullivan. Lindsey Campbell. Jelena Jelic.

They remain in power, protected by silence and red tape.

Meanwhile, I’ve filed multiple FOIA requests to access documentation that could clear my name and prove the pattern—and the City has done everything in its power to delay, deny, and deflect.

Over $1,000 in fees
No real response from leadership
No action from the FOIA Officer, City Attorney, City Manager, Mayor, or Council
They had no issue producing documents to justify firing me. But when it comes to the truth? They're holding on tight.

But here's what they didn’t expect:
I documented everything.
And I’m not backing down.

I’m not doing this for revenge or money. I’m doing it for accountability. For those who are still working in fear. For those who were pushed out before me. For those who never got the chance to speak up.

I’m demanding:
A full investigation into ADA violations and retaliation within DSS
Termination of those involved in repeated misconduct
Policy reform and required mental health/disability training for all city supervisors
An anonymous, safe reporting process for city workers
Immediate reevaluation of the City’s FOIA practices and costs related to ADA claims

I always keep receipts

This isn’t just my fight. This is our fight.
They crossed the wrong one—and I’m making it my mission to be the last.

If you believe in transparency, inclusion, and doing what’s right—not just what’s legal—sign this petition. Share it. Speak out.

Because when they try to back us into a corner—we break the whole damn wall down.

— Ricardo Graves
CEO, Advocate, Former City of Roanoke Employee
Founder of The RG Agency

#JusticeForRicardo
#NeurodivergentAndUnapologetic
#ADHDAwareness
#DisabilityRightsAreCivilRights
#WrongfulTermination
#AccountabilityNow
#CityOfRoanoke
#EndRetaliation
#MentalHealthMatters
#FightAbleism
#IAmTheLast
#AdvocacyWithAction
#SmallTownHustla
#TheRGAgency
#TheyCrossedTheWrongOne
#StandWithRicardo