There is no one size fits all’ for people living with disabilities. My job is to share that message and advocate for the diversity of our community, the disabled – the nation’s largest minority consisting of close to 50 million people. It does not get any more diverse than the disabilities community. We come from all backgrounds, ethnicities, gender roles and religions, and because of this, we have the ability to bring value to businesses and the global workforce.

I am a 26-year old Black woman with a disability. Advocacy is my business. I do not only advocate for myself, but for others in the disabilities community who are in need of support to fill the gaps in their life that are often invisible to many. I believe everyone has a voice; I am that for the voiceless.

I am currently the Regional Self Advocacy Lead at the Regional Workforce Transformation Center. My job is to ensure that the people living with disabilities are included in the narrative of job transformation as we embrace the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). This is a very exciting time for our community because as the world undergoes this digital transformation and everything becomes automated, many people living with disabilities in America are already acclimatized to utilizing digital tools whether it is for speech enabling, wheelchair mobility or any other functions. It is imperative that all the diverse voices of the disabled are heard as we redesign a more inclusive future workforce. With my leadership role emerging from the lens of inclusion, I also extend my vision to training and mentoring people with disabilities in the developing world to become self-advocates, as well as encourage them to share their voice.