I’m legally blind, and I’m tired. I’ve been advocating for myself since I was a little kid, and somehow that same fight followed me right into adulthood. I really believed that once I got older, I would not have to keep explaining myself, proving myself, and asking people to see what I can do. But after almost three years in my current role, I can honestly say it has been mentally exhausting to keep showing up and still feel like basic understanding and support are treated like too much to ask.

This is bigger than me. So many disabled workers are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for the tools and respect that let us do our jobs. In my case, I have shown again and again that I can work. I stock multiple areas in my store every single night. I have handled cereal, snacks, infants, automotive, hardware, sporting goods, toys, and more. Disabled workers should not have to overperform just to be treated like we belong.

That is why I am calling on employers to create and enforce a clear accommodation process that does not make workers fight for every basic need. No worker should have to keep repeating their disability, defending their ability, or wondering whether managers are talking about them instead of supporting them. Employers must train managers to respond appropriately to disability disclosures, provide accommodations promptly, and make sure disabled employees can work without humiliation or unnecessary barriers.

I keep showing up because I want to work. I want to feel like I can do something, just like anybody else. If you believe disabled workers deserve respect, fair treatment, and accommodations without having to beg for them, please sign and stand with us.