When I sit back and reflect on my employment journey, I cant help but think about how crazy it has been. Before I move on, I want to mention that at the age of four, an insurance company deemed me unemployable without even meeting me! At four years old they made that determination! Of course, I dont really remember it, but thats what my parents tell me. That always has stuck in the back of my mind.

My employment journeystarted back in 2009 after I graduated from UW-Whitewater. Actually, I should mention thatI had the opportunity to write a column in The Fond du Lac Reporter for about two years while I was in Whitewater. I wrote every other week about having a physical disability. It was all volunteer, but the exposure was incredible. I also was an online mentor for students with disabilities starting the year before I graduated. It was through Midwest Alliance.I helped them with such things as goal setting, accommodations, study skills, self-advocacy skills, and transitioning.I did that for just over three years, and had 8 or 9 students.After graduating, I continued to work with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) to try to find employment. I had been a client of DVR since my junior year of high school. They helped me get setup with my accommodations I needed at Whitewater.

After I graduated college, I lived at my parents in Fond du Lac to start with, so I was with the Fond du Lac DVR. They hired an employment vendor to try to help me find employment. They helped me get a work experience with an advertising agency in Appleton. I designed ads for a coupon magazine from home. I loved doing it, but, unfortunately, the company wasn't in place to hire me at the time. After that, the employmentvendor basically left me hanging. Long story short, for the next year, I was basically applied for jobs on my own and checkedin with DVR every so often. Eventually, DVR put me on a waiting list for customized employment through Clarity Care.

I moved to Oshkosh in February 2011 and started with DVR in Winnebago County. Shortly after, Istarted Customized Employment with Clarity Care. I went through their program steps which included such things as doing an employment profile, creating a visual resume, and creating a portfolio, so we could show employers my work. We tried getting some work experiences, but didnt have any luck. In February 2012, I went to a breakout session about Vocational Futures Planning and Support (VFPS) at the Transition Conference.VFPS is a specific approach meant for people with physical disabilities. Mom and I talked to the founders after the session and I brought the information back to Clarity Care and DVR. There was nobody in my partof the state trained on VFPS, so Clarity Care bought the training and one of the founders trained them using me as an example. It was interesting too because I was the first IRIS participant to go through it which made a difference with funding.

VFPS is a multi-step team approach that looks at all aspects of my life and basically assesses all my barriers. Because of my situation, we weren't able to follow VFPS exactly. We did what was appropriate for me. I had an assistive technology evaluation done which was when I got my Ipad for communication. I also got a whole new computer setup which included things such as two computer screens, new updated design software, and an accessible computer table. Everything I needed so I would be ready to work. I also had a benefits analysis done to learn how income would affect my benefits. I created an online portfolio to show potential employers my work. We also did a couple of informational interviews, so I could ask questions of employers so I could get a better understanding of what they were looking for.

We tried getting some work experiences, but again we didnt have much luck. In October 2012, I was told I had a job designing ads for a coupon mailer. I was toldit wasn'tjust an experience; it was apermanentjob at first. Well, over the course of four months, there were several miscommunications and I was told several different things. In the end, it endedup being a work experience which ended up not leading to a job.While I was grateful for the opportunity, this was so incredibly frustrating. In the middle of the experience, one of the people trained on VFPS left Clarity Care. Soon after, the other person who was trained left also. It was unbelievable! I admit, after that fiasco, it took me a couple of weeks to clear my head and refocus. Eventually, with the support of my employment team and my family, Istarted my own business and did some freelance things. I do freelance graphic design and social media. Its called Design Wheels. I advertise on places such as Craigslist and Facebook.

Then, last March, I received an email encouraging me to apply for the Online Community Network Manager position for InControl Wisconsin. I applied, had an interview, and was offered the position. Its really ideal for me. Im able to work from home, and, obviously, its something Im really passionate about. June 1^st will mark one year of being employed by InControl Wisconsin.

In December, after 14 years, we were able to successfully close my DVR case. Given, the severity of my limitations, people tell me its a pretty amazing achievement. It had been always a goal of mine to prove that insurance company wrong. I knew I couldif given the chance!

When I think about my journey, although there were many times wanted to give up, Im so glad I didnt! I encourage people to keep pursuing their dreams even if people tell you they will never happen. With perseverance and determination, anything is possible!

The views expressed here are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of InControl Wisconsin, the Network or any of our sponsors.