Life was good! I graduated from high school after 11th Grade and started college as an Advanced Freshman. Following graduation, with a degree in Marketing, a minor in Accounting and Graduate School level hours in Human Resource Management, I went to work for another Fortune 500 Company. I didn’t like their career path and decided to take some time off. It was during this time off that I was hit with my GREATEST CHALLENGE EVER – I lost my hearing.
I have faced many challenges following my hearing loss, but one of the biggest challenges was in restarting my career. I had to deal with discrimination and a lack of understanding by companies about what it meant to employ someone who was deaf. But I can tell you without any hesitation, IBM is so far ahead in addressing disability acceptance – actually, far ahead in its overall culture of diversity. IBM uses technological and intellectual capabilities to make the world a better place for persons with disabilities and has allowed me the opportunity grow and share my gifts with others.
The bottom line is never give-up! Don’t allow your statistic to define you! Instead, focus on the story of who you are and use the power in that story to drive you to success!