The State of Disability Employment
    
   Having a career is an important part of life. It provides a source of income, satisfaction and independence. Unfortunately for many people with disabilities systemic and societal roadblocks continue to present challenges to finding meaningful work. 
              

Before 13-year-old Yasmeene Ahmad experienced a traumatic brain injury, she was a “loving, strong, responsible, humble, courageous and friendly girl.” The injury significantly impacted her daily life. 

Yasmeene fell in a school gym one afternoon. Upon waking, she seemed disoriented and began experiencing radiating pain in her head. Christen, Yasmeen’s mother, arrived to pick her up.

“Soon after returning home, Yasmeene started throwing up, so I rushed her to the hospital,” she said. 

Disability Day on the Hill (DDH) occurs once a year during legislative sessions, often occurring in multiple states. During Tennessee’s DDH, community members are able to meet with their legislators to talk about upcoming bills that would affect them. 

Seeing advocacy at work can be a very impactful experience, especially when it happens at DDH. For two of our staff, Beth and Hannah, their first Disability Day on the Hill experiences sparked awareness and ignited action.