Let me just be honest: I never had dreams of becoming the next Bill Gates. I know better than to dream about things I’ll never see in a thousand lifetimes, let alone a single one. But for people with disabilities, it’s a helluva lot worse. We’re told to aim so low that we never actually accomplish anything.
This happens to varying degrees when it comes to dealing with the umbrella of disabilities, but the majority of us only ever have part-time, no-living jobs to look forward to. And most of the time the people working those jobs can’t even keep them. Once the so-called slow season hits, we’re gone. Hours are slashed to the bone or we’re laid off entirely.
Even in recent years, the token gestures to help us get educated haven’t helped a bit, and even those have been slashed to the bone, especially here in Florida. And no, the ‘because Republicans’ southern strategy shit won’t fly here. This kind of abuse and neglect happens everywhere, no matter who is in charge because the vast majority of folks who have never experienced this won’t care much about the services we need no matter which side of the fence they happen to be on.
So what is my dream, anyway? Inclusion. But even that is too far out of reach. If you dare to call me a liar or bark orders at me to change it, then you’ll never understand.
See you around,
Homer