Gina Semenza ^*

Talk about pressure. I am a bright, educated, and motivated young woman with a disability. Throughout my life, I have had to work twice as hard to prove my abilities in a society that presents many hurdles for a person with a disability to successfully transition into meaningful employment.

My transitional pathway began in college and has been paved with many difficulties since. College freshmen usually deal with significant changes in their lives such as moving away from the comforts of home, making new friends, learning to communicate with roommates, and choosing the right classes. However, I was forced to deal with challenges beyond typical, like not getting accessible housing or being charged extra for accessible housing, missing classes due to a non existent or non functioning elevator, and navigating around an inaccessible campus an inadequate amount of curb cuts. I had to learn how to advocate and fight for what I needed, all while I was simply trying to be a college freshman.

During my second year in college, my first working experience was with an internship in downtown Los Angeles. Downtown was a forty-minute drive away and I did not yet drive. Depending on public transportation services became problematic because they rarely run on time. Not having reliable transportation illustrated to me how particularly difficult it is for people with disabilities to appear timely and responsible to colleagues and employers when relying on public transportation.

Out of necessity, I learned how to become a strong advocate for people with disabilities in college. Even though it was an intense and sometimes stressful time, it made me a more passionate and dedicated person for the better. However, that experience did not prepare me for entering the workplace.

I began Coro- a prestigious and competitive fellowship in public affairs- last September. Although my prior advocacy was a significant attribute that led to my selection, it was far from encouraged within the program. I was so concerned about appearing to be the "angry disabled girl" or the "token disabled girl" who gets special treatment that I desperately wanted to assimilate with my eleven other colleagues. I did not want to draw attention to myself and I did not know how to firmly demand accommodations in a public setting. I pushed myself to go beyond my limit with my physical energies. Yet, when I failed to go to these extremes, I was accused of not being as dedicated as my colleagues.

I also became afraid to speak up when an accommodation had not been met. It seemed that employers did not want to know that their methods might not be accessible to all employees. In addition, I had to learn to non-emotionally discuss issues of vital importance to people with disabilities with my non-disabled colleagues. This proved difficult because I felt that they did not understand disability. To combat this, I conducted a session on Disability Culture for the Fellows, which greatly helped.

The Coro fellowship was an amazing experience. It facilitated my growth and allowed me to learn from not only my strengths and weaknesses, but from those of the other Fellows as well. The nine months of the program challenged all twelve of us in various ways. Despite all the challenges, I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to positively challenge and affect other young leader's views on persons with disabilities.

There are a few lessons I can share that are vitally important.

• To employees with disabilities, know the accommodations you need and articulate them to your employer and colleagues. Additionally, do not let any frustrations become a hindrance to fulfilling employment desires. Yes, it can be quite challenging when working in an inaccessible environment, but unless you positively effect your situation, nothing will ever change.
• To employers, know that employees with disabilities are an integral part of bringing diversity and insightful voices to the table in the workplace. Don't be afraid to ask others questions about appropriate accommodations and, above all, keep the lines of communication open for an honest and effective workplace.

This is just the beginning of my journey. I am currently facing the obstacles of joining the workforce with far more concerns than my non-disabled peers. Those that think that living on public benefits is easy or that people with disabilities are just lazy for not working, I am here to challenge that assumption. In the state of California, I am fortunate to receive Supplemental Security Income (with the additional California state enhancement), In Home Supportive Services (to pay for attendant care), and Medi-Cal (California's version of Medicaid). While I am grateful to have these public benefits that allow my independence, they create finding employment far more challenging. It is not sufficient to just get a job (not that this task is easy these days). I have to ensure that my employer's benefits package cares for my needs or that I can earn enough to bear the burden myself.

Employment is the final and most crucial frontier for full inclusion of people with disabilities. I long to contribute to society and find camaraderie with co-workers. I am 23 and I have an entire lifetime of amazing challenges ahead of me. I know I have so much more to learn about life and I am ready for the next stage of my life to begin.

* Gina Semenza, 23, is a recent graduate of Coro Los Angeles, a nine-month, post-graduate fellowship program in Public Affairs. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Theatre. Currently, she is applying to graduate school to obtain her Masters in Public Affairs with a concentration in Public Policy. In addition, Gina has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and uses a power wheelchair.