From Rejection to Belonging: My Journey to Self-Worth

Have you ever told yourself that you’re not good enough because of your disability? I have, and the weight of that thought is heavy. We don’t challenge it because we convince ourselves we’re just being honest. But this kind of self-talk isn’t the truth. It can hold us back.

I remember applying for a volunteer coordinator role at Youth Futures. I almost didn’t apply, thinking no one would hire me to manage people because I’m DeafBlind and use a wheelchair. But five years of constant rejection by employers had left me desperate for a job, so I applied anyway. I was shocked when they called to schedule an interview.

I didn’t know how I’d navigate the interview, but I made it work using voice dictation and Apple Notes. It was awkward and imperfect. But the interviewers were patient, and the conversation went better than I expected. For the first time in a long time, I started to believe I belonged. Weeks later, I got the job. That opportunity changed my life.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to recognize the skills and talents disabled people bring to the workplace. After years of rejection, though, it can be hard to recognize that potential in ourselves. The words we speak about ourselves shape how we show up in the world. I may not walk, see or hear like others, but I am smart and capable. My disability doesn’t define my worth. This mindset carries me forward now. It empowers me to pursue my goals with resilience. And I know it can empower you too.

Your disability is a part of you; it does not define you. Speak life over yourself. Choose words that reaffirm your potential and strength. When you change your words, you change your life.