Maggie asks:
What did you do that got you past the assorted prejudices and horse-hockey assumptions about people with disabilities … especially to get into law school and to get hired by a big outfit? What should a new kid in that kind of situation be doing?
I’m not sure I did anything particularly different than my able-bodied peers. I was a good student and had the drive and ambition typical of academic overachievers. Of course, my parents were a huge influence on me. They made it clear that, regardless of my disability, they expected me to get an education and find employment. Anything less simply wasn’t acceptable. That’s why I get particularly perturbed whenever someone suggests to me that I really don’t have to work and could simply go on Social Security if I so desired. That’s certainly a valid choice for many people, but it’s foreign to my worldview.
As for any advice I might have, it’s pretty standard stuff. Study hard. Find mentors who can see past your disability and will eventually be willing to extol your virtues to others. Don’t be afraid to talk about your disability and how it has shaped your perspective, but remember that your disability is not the most interesting thing about you. Take every opportunity to demonstrate your competence. Enroll in challenging classes. Volunteer. Get noticed. Once people see that you’re capable in whatever endeavor you choose, your disability will matter much less to others.
Keep the questions coming.
