When I was 14 years old, I was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. Before the diagnosis, neither my parents nor I understood why I struggled socially. I first realized I was different from my peers when I had difficulty making friends at school. When I tried to talk to other students, I sometimes said things that sounded unusual to them. Instead of trying to understand me, some students avoided me or bullied me. I became afraid to talk to people and often chose to stay quiet.
Asperger’s syndrome, now diagnosed under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by repetitive behaviors and difficulties with social interaction and nonverbal communication. It generally refers to individuals without language or intellectual delays.
When I was younger, I was told that someone with autism could not work a regular job or function independently. Because of this belief, I was placed in several disability programs, including services through the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.
It included employment training and education programs to help Texans find jobs and support employers in building their workforce. I was even nearly placed in a factory job designed for people with disabilities. While these programs were meant to help, they sometimes made me feel as though others saw me as someone who could not fully participate in society.
However, my perspective changed when I discovered my interest in libraries and began to work toward becoming a library supervisor.
In 2016, I enrolled in the Tarrant County College library technician program in Fort Worth. I completed an internship and earned my certificate in May 2017. Soon after that, I gained additional experience through student assistant positions, work-study roles and temporary jobs, including working at the campus bookstore and South Campus library.
After transferring to UTA to study history, I have continued to build my experience. My major has helped me strengthen my research, analytical and problem-solving skills. I worked at the university bookstore and later became a student assistant and work-study employee at the UTA library. These opportunities allowed me to develop professional skills and demonstrate that people with disabilities can succeed in the workplace when given the opportunity.
My experiences have shown me that people with disabilities should be seen as valuable members of the community rather than problems that need to be fixed. With understanding and opportunity, individuals with disabilities can work, learn and contribute to society.
Today, I remain committed to building a career in library sciences. I plan to continue to work in customer service positions then move into a library specialist role in the next few years. My passion for reading and helping others motivates me to support library programs and promote literacy within my community, with the goal of creating inclusive spaces where everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow.