Teaching is an amazing experience. Employment is a huge obstacle for people with disabilities. I struggled with employment immediately after completing college. Discrimination is real when it comes to disabilities, and please don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I have cerebral palsy, and there is no way to hide it. A physical disability is the first thing people see. Yet, I conquered landing several jobs that are outside the house in the last year or so.
Teaching has always been my interest ever since in kindergarten. Teaching is in my blood, but my body doesn’t cooperate with me. Cerebral palsy can make muscle movements difficult and speech hard to understand sometimes. It can also be unpredictable in movements too which leads to frustration and annoyances. However, I am not that kind of person the gives up on life so I went full steam ahead and became a teacher.
Due to first discrimination several times when I’d go on interviews and then having my children, I’m a bit delayed in getting a teaching position. In November 2018, I accepted a job at the YMCA to work for an aftercare position. I loved working there with the children. I taught them about cerebral palsy in the beginning of my time with them. Towards the end, I think many even forgot that I use a wheelchair. My co workers were excellent because they knew and accepted what I physically cannot do and highlighted what I can do.
In June 2019, I decided that I needed a job that allowed me to be home with my children when they were home from school. I always had a goal to be a substitute teacher. The school district advertised that it needed substitute teachers so I decided to apply. After sending my application, I had to attend a group interview/orientation. I talked to the supervisor in charge to see if he foresaw any difficulty in me being a substitute. He said none at all and I could take my attendant to help me with the physical aspects of the job, I felt very excited.
During the summer, I worked in the morning as a camp counselor. I enjoyed learning from new challenges and making new friends. Slowly I continued to work towards getting all of the paperwork ready for subbing. By the end of summer, I wasn’t quite ready yet to start substitute teaching. I felt nervous that if I left my current job that I worked hard to get and failed at subbing, then what? Plus, I liked my job and my co-workers. But, as time progressed into the school year, I realized that I needed to be home more at night. My kids needed me and I knew that I just had to make the plunge.
Before I quit my regular shift, I took a half day substitute job to see how everything would work out. To my great surprise, the day worked out really well. I was allowed to have my attendant with me so she assisted with all the physical things that I couldn’t do.
As I taught, I admit that the whole experience felt surreal to me. I was teaching and controlling the classroom myself! I honestly didn’t know if I would ever have the opportunity to be a teacher. It felt amazing, and my future felt bright. As I step into the new year, I have new opportunities to do what I love and be home with my children. I really couldn’t ask for anything better!
this was originally published by cerebral palsy news today by Jessica Grono
