My name is Zach. I am 23 years old. Playing video games, listening to music, and watching Anime are some of my hobbies. One of my favorite games is Pokemon. I also like the Elder Scrolls. Broly, from the new version of Dragonball is one of my favorite characters. Jotaro Kujo and Dio are two of my favorite characters from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures. I was diagnosed with Asperger’s, which is part of the Autism Spectrum.
I attended public school for several years. As I got older, being bullied became part of my school day. My mother and I decided that home schooling would be a better option for me. I earned the highest score of all Jones County applicants on my GED, after just a two-week refresher course. I am involved with the USM Step-Up Council, an organization that supports leadership and advocacy of people with disabilities. The council is made up of people with and without disabilities.
I am somewhat employed as a kennel assistant. I help with the breeding and caring of the dogs. My employer went to school with my mom several years ago. My job pays some of my bills, but I really need another part-time job as this one is not consistent. I have participated in community programs such as Americorps but am not entirely sure that it will help me get a job. I am also a member of the USM Step Up Council, a group comprised of people with and without disabilities. Our members serve as leaders within our schools, colleges, universities and communities.
Unfortunately, I have no advice for other people with disabilities who are looking for work as my job just came from the “luck” of my mom knowing someone who needed help. I do think good communication skills are important. If you need accommodations and do not have them, you and prospective employers would not be able to communicate effectively. In school, I had some accommodations, as I am on the Autism Spectrum.
I think if I had been introduced to more people in the community who were looking for employees, I would have had more opportunities to find employment. Finding meaningful employment is important for me. I wish there was more incentives for employers who hire people with disabilities. Finding employment is difficult for most people, but especially for those of us with disabilities.