Becoming a writer wasn’t intentionally on my radar and was something I never dreamt would be possible for me. I have a job that I love and work very hard at, so having the time to write never seemed feasible. Anyone who knows me or is close to me knows how my job is my passion and art, so naturally, I talk about it often. I will talk to anyone and everyone about inclusion for people with different abilities in the workforce as well as advocate and create the opportunity to make it happen.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but in hindsight, I was telling my story and the stories I write about in my book all the time. I think eventually this was brought to my attention, but it was also one scenario after another that made me realize I needed to share my story: The true, real, vulnerable, and undeniable secrets of the hidden workforce. Additionally, I see writing as one of the many jobs in the hidden workforce which was not only on topic but fostered the inspiration and creativity to carry it out successfully. It wasn’t until I underwent neck surgery and while in recovery that I finally had the right timing and opportunity to write.
Any interests or early signs as a child that hinted you would later put pen to paper?
I believe so! From a very young age, I loved to read and was enamored by books and trips to the library. When I was young, I wrote in all types of genres for fun such as short stories, plays, and poems. I even loved to write school papers. Later on in my life, that ability was forged into writing business plans, but all the same, I enjoyed letting my imagination run wild by putting pen to paper. Ironically, I still never thought I would write a book, but I’m thankful to have fostered the love of writing and creating throughout my life to prepare for when I did.
What inspired you to write a book of your work experiences? Why was now the right time to publish it?
I work with many clients who live with disabilities, or as I refer to them differently-abled, who are excited, talented, and ready to work hard. We spend a lot of time in the community looking for their opportunities… Seeing them rejected from one place after another (many times with no reason), over and over for days, sometimes weeks, those were the moments forming my book before I even knew I’d be writing it. People need to know the barriers and obstacles people with different abilities face when they’re pursuing a job.
Any interests or early signs as a child that hinted you would later put pen to paper?
I believe so! From a very young age, I loved to read and was enamored by books and trips to the library. When I was young, I wrote in all types of genres for fun such as short stories, plays, and poems. I even loved to write school papers. Later on in my life, that ability was forged into writing business plans, but all the same, I enjoyed letting my imagination run wild by putting pen to paper. Ironically, I still never thought I would write a book, but I’m thankful to have fostered the love of writing and creating throughout my life to prepare for when I did.
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I work with many clients who live with disabilities, or as I refer to them differently-abled, who are excited, talented, and ready to work hard. We spend a lot of time in the community looking for their opportunities… Seeing them rejected from one place after another (many times with no reason), over and over for days, sometimes weeks, those were the moments forming my book before I even knew I’d be writing it. People need to know the barriers and obstacles people with different abilities face when they’re pursuing a job.
After being on a friend’s radio show I decided to start my own where I feature inclusive employers, people with different abilities ready to work, parents, direct support professionals, as well as executives from multiple nonprofits that serve the differently-abled community. All of those interviews and experiences only further affirmed the importance of writing about my experiences as well as their experiences.
Those reasons are also why now was the time to publish. Of all the months, March is a perfect month to release this book into the world because it’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. My story is a story that needs to be heard because it helps amplify the story of my friends and clients who live with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
How did the writing process work for you? Did you schedule a time every day, work madly when inspiration hits or?
My writing process came one day at a time. After my neck injury, it brought me into a season of stillness. As someone who likes to stay busy, I wanted to take advantage of that time to do something productive. I had put the project of writing a book on the shelf for years, so writing during my recovery was the most organic and authentic timing for me. I just started writing and the stories poured out of me.
I didn’t have a set routine for when I wrote. The stories would pour out at different times so I would write when inspiration came to me. Sometimes I would write (or rewrite) for a few minutes, and at other times I would write for hours upon hours.
What about the writing process came easiest for you? What did you struggle with?
The easiest, and my most favorite parts of the writing process were when a story, memory, or moment would organically come to me. There were times when stories came so quickly, that I had to use talk-to-text to write it out fast enough. It was a joy to have those moments of inspiration as well as the nostalgia that accompanied them.
The areas of struggle for me centered around organizing my content and the meticulous process of refining grammar and punctuation. As I mentioned, when moments of inspiration hit, I could write for hours… but that doesn’t mean the stories came neatly packed together in a coherent order. It took sitting with my dear friend Chris to really place the puzzle pieces of my anecdotes together for everyone to see the bigger picture— which is the book we’re all reading today.
What do you most hope readers will take away from reading your book?
Every single one of us is a beautiful person wrapped in purpose. We all desire deep friendships, love, to feel known, understood, and seen— that desire is no different for people who live with different abilities. They want the same things and feel the same desires people who don’t live with an intellectual or developmental disability feel. Even if it’s expressed differently, it’s beautiful. We as humans, every background we come from, race, different ability, what makes us who we are— we are a masterpiece. Each person and their uniqueness contributes to the beauty of the picture that unfolds.
We all have to work together if we want the bigger picture of inclusion for differently abled people to unfold. If my audience internalizes that message as they read through my book, they will come out on the other side as more accepting of differently-abled people working alongside them as well as contributing to society alongside them as teammates, coworkers, and friends.
Is there one life lesson that stands out you gained from working with this population? How have these clients enriched your life?'
My friends and clients with different abilities who make up the hidden workforce are infectiously happy, dedicated, loyal, dependable workers whom anyone would be proud to be a coworker with. They will be the most hard-working employees you ever hire because every day and chance they get to work is an honor and privilege to them and it shows through in the output of their intentional work ethic. You will learn so much from the unique way they approach solving a problem or bring a more inclusive way of carrying out a task— and sometimes their way is the better way.
When I see my clients receive the opportunity of employment that is offered to them, and watch as they mature, grow, and evolve in that role they are given—my heart overflows with joy. It makes me so happy to see their dream come true I can barely do anything but smile ear to ear and cheer them on as they grow and succeed. I wish I could capture every moment and compile them together like a movie for people to watch… but you get just as good of a picture of these moments in my book.
Do you have a favorite quote you can share? One that is your go to on tough days?
Frank Sinatra singing, “Just what makes that little old ant, think he'll move that rubber tree plant. Anyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant! But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes. He's got high, apple pie in the sky hopes! So, any time you're gettin' low, 'stead of lettin' go, just remember that ant… Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant!”
It’s not a direct quote, it’s lyrics to a song, but this song means so much to me. When I have a problem before me that I don’t know how to solve, when I’m feeling low, and even in good times— I think of that cartoon of ants plucking rubber tree plants 100 times their size right out of the ground. Thinking about the possibilities, if an ant can pluck a rubber tree plant 100 times their size, I can face any challenge that comes my way that’s 100 times my size too. When the thought of this cartoon and quote comes to mind, it brings me hope and immediately changes my mood. I hope as you read through this quote it inspires “high apple pie in the sky” hopes in you as well.
Those reasons are also why now was the time to publish. Of all the months, March is a perfect month to release this book into the world because it’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. My story is a story that needs to be heard because it helps amplify the story of my friends and clients who live with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
How did the writing process work for you? Did you schedule a time every day, work madly when inspiration hits or?
My writing process came one day at a time. After my neck injury, it brought me into a season of stillness. As someone who likes to stay busy, I wanted to take advantage of that time to do something productive. I had put the project of writing a book on the shelf for years, so writing during my recovery was the most organic and authentic timing for me. I just started writing and the stories poured out of me.
I didn’t have a set routine for when I wrote. The stories would pour out at different times so I would write when inspiration came to me. Sometimes I would write (or rewrite) for a few minutes, and at other times I would write for hours upon hours.
What about the writing process came easiest for you? What did you struggle with?
The easiest, and my most favorite parts of the writing process were when a story, memory, or moment would organically come to me. There were times when stories came so quickly, that I had to use talk-to-text to write it out fast enough. It was a joy to have those moments of inspiration as well as the nostalgia that accompanied them.
The areas of struggle for me centered around organizing my content and the meticulous process of refining grammar and punctuation. As I mentioned, when moments of inspiration hit, I could write for hours… but that doesn’t mean the stories came neatly packed together in a coherent order. It took sitting with my dear friend Chris to really place the puzzle pieces of my anecdotes together for everyone to see the bigger picture— which is the book we’re all reading today.
What do you most hope readers will take away from reading your book?
Every single one of us is a beautiful person wrapped in purpose. We all desire deep friendships, love, to feel known, understood, and seen— that desire is no different for people who live with different abilities. They want the same things and feel the same desires people who don’t live with an intellectual or developmental disability feel. Even if it’s expressed differently, it’s beautiful. We as humans, every background we come from, race, different ability, what makes us who we are— we are a masterpiece. Each person and their uniqueness contributes to the beauty of the picture that unfolds.
We all have to work together if we want the bigger picture of inclusion for differently abled people to unfold. If my audience internalizes that message as they read through my book, they will come out on the other side as more accepting of differently-abled people working alongside them as well as contributing to society alongside them as teammates, coworkers, and friends.
Is there one life lesson that stands out you gained from working with this population? How have these clients enriched your life?'
My friends and clients with different abilities who make up the hidden workforce are infectiously happy, dedicated, loyal, dependable workers whom anyone would be proud to be a coworker with. They will be the most hard-working employees you ever hire because every day and chance they get to work is an honor and privilege to them and it shows through in the output of their intentional work ethic. You will learn so much from the unique way they approach solving a problem or bring a more inclusive way of carrying out a task— and sometimes their way is the better way.
When I see my clients receive the opportunity of employment that is offered to them, and watch as they mature, grow, and evolve in that role they are given—my heart overflows with joy. It makes me so happy to see their dream come true I can barely do anything but smile ear to ear and cheer them on as they grow and succeed. I wish I could capture every moment and compile them together like a movie for people to watch… but you get just as good of a picture of these moments in my book.
Do you have a favorite quote you can share? One that is your go to on tough days?
Frank Sinatra singing, “Just what makes that little old ant, think he'll move that rubber tree plant. Anyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant! But he's got high hopes, he's got high hopes. He's got high, apple pie in the sky hopes! So, any time you're gettin' low, 'stead of lettin' go, just remember that ant… Oops, there goes another rubber tree plant!”
It’s not a direct quote, it’s lyrics to a song, but this song means so much to me. When I have a problem before me that I don’t know how to solve, when I’m feeling low, and even in good times— I think of that cartoon of ants plucking rubber tree plants 100 times their size right out of the ground. Thinking about the possibilities, if an ant can pluck a rubber tree plant 100 times their size, I can face any challenge that comes my way that’s 100 times my size too. When the thought of this cartoon and quote comes to mind, it brings me hope and immediately changes my mood. I hope as you read through this quote it inspires “high apple pie in the sky” hopes in you as well.
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