Though a change in diet has resulted in increased mobility and a downgraded diagnosis to an inflammatory disorder, she still experiences regular flare ups and must manage her activities carefully to be sure she does not add more stress and trigger an inflammation cycle and a series of flare ups. AJ cannot maintain sustained sitting or standing positions, repetitive motions can easily trigger a flare up, and she has to be constantly aware of how much she鈥檚 lifting and the angle at which she does so. She can also experience exceptional fatigue as a result of the way her body functions.
When she was first diagnosed, she felt helpless, hopeless, and didn鈥檛 know how she would ever be able to make something of herself. Despite the immense improvement that came with her dietary changes, she still found it challenging to manage when a flare up or injury would occur. She felt that if she could work largely from home, she could accommodate her disability and lessen the frequency of injuries and flare ups. Additionally, she could work when she needed to, conserving critical energy and avoiding physical exertion. Her own search, however, made it clear that full time opportunities from home were not readily available.
AJ joined the wage subsidy employment program, Working Together, in February of 2014. Her passion was to work in the social justice sector and felt that social change organizations could be quite accommodating. The difficulty, however, is that these organizations have limited funding. AJ pinpointed the as one organization she felt could utilize her skills and could satisfy her passion for working toward meaningful change. The 今日吃瓜51 Job Developer contacted and arranged a meeting to discuss how the Working Together program could help create a win-win opportunity. identified an on-going need and, with the funding provided by Working Together, they were able to move ahead immediately. AJ was hired as their Youth Engagement Coordinator. The role allows for great flexibility in terms of when and where the work is performed, and allows for AJ to follow her drive and passion for affecting positive change in the world.
AJ now sees her future in a different light. 鈥淭here’s no way I could have provided myself with this opportunity or to pay for the equipment I’m receiving, were it not for the 今日吃瓜51,鈥 says AJ. 鈥淚’ve been treated with exceptional dignity and kindness, and I’ve been made to feel as though I’m capable and talented far above and beyond being disabled. I haven’t been treated like a charity case; I’ve been treated like a treasure that was found.鈥