Why should society tell me that a person with a disability can't build a life? I understand that we might always need help from others—fair enough. But to say we can't do anything? That's a bridge too far.
Let me tell you about something I felt on January 31st, 2024: I went grocery shopping with a volunteer—without my mother, for the first time. It was wonderful! At thirty-four years old, I felt something I'd never felt before. It matters. It's important to do the things that everyone else does.
On the way home, a little sadness crept in. Without a diploma, I don't know what to expect from my future. But we can talk about that another time.