by Jeffrey A. Nurick
(Author’s note:
On September 5, 2007, I was invited to St. Paul to testify on behalf
of the disability community in front of the Legislative Commission
on Eliminating Poverty by the year 2020. I was asked to speak about
my education and frustration in obtaining gainful employment. Below
is my actual testimony.)
Members of the Commission on Poverty:
My name is Jeffrey Nurick
and I have Cerebral Palsy. As a member of the larger disability
community, I consider it an honor to speak to you today. I graduated
4th in my high school class, received my Bachelors degree with
a 3.3 GPA, was inducted into the National Social Science Honor
Society and completed an internship at the White House during the
Clinton administration. I also completed two years of service in
an AmeriCorps program in Minneapolis. Like you, I’m proud of
my accomplishments, but now I just want to obtain full-time and meaningful
employment. I have invested a lot of time, money and energy in my future,
and right now I’m feeling that it is all in vain.
Unfortunately, the unemployment
rate among people with disabilities is overwhelming. Most of us
are collecting Social Security and other government benefits just
to survive. However, employment is about much more than just money.
If that’s all it’s about, we can
all go home and resume life as normal. The truth of it is that employment
is about being accepted, being respected, making a contribution and
waking up in the morning looking forward to going to work. My whole
life I was told that I needed to get a good education in order to be
a productive person. Sure, it is easier to open up a mailbox every
month and collect your welfare check, but I’m here to tell you,
that’s not what most people with disabilities want to do. I don’t
know about you, but we would rather earn our pay. That is one of
my most important values.
I have the education,
the experience, the drive and the motivation. I’ve applied for numerous jobs but have not as yet secured one.
I’ve been rejected by the private sector, not-for-profits, and
government agencies. Let me tell you, this is one area where there
is no discrimination. My county vocational counselor suggested that
I become a greeter at a supermarket or discount chain. I know what
I can accomplish and what my capabilities are, but employers and even
many well-meaning advocates for the disabled can’t seem to
get past my wheelchair and speech impediment.
Now very briefly, let
me mention employment in the nonprofit and government agencies
whose mission it is to help people with disabilities. Some are
better than others, but believe it or not, the great majority of
their workers in meaningful jobs are able-bodied and most disabled
workers, with few exceptions, have relatively minor disabilities.
Fulfilling their mission with INTEGRITY means HIRING people like
me—and
not just in their sheltered workshops either.
I’ve met and surpassed many challenges in my life, and I am
determined to find a meaningful, fulfilling job where I can help my
employer meet their organization’s goals and objectives. On
a daily basis I am constantly searching Web sites, networking, going
to meetings, volunteering and speaking to people. As an educated
and experienced person with a physical disability, I am uniquely
qualified to connect with a diverse population. I am constantly being
told by colleagues, clients and managers that I motivate and inspire
others to excel. I would like a chance to do this in a paid setting
now.
The late Justin Dart
Jr., known as the father of the Americans with Disabilities Act,
had a famous quote that I would like to share. “Get
off your ass and play God.” Furthermore, futurist Joel Barker
once said, “Vision without action is just daydreaming. Action
without vision is merely biding time. But vision plus action can change
the world!” I feel the presence of these two fine gentlemen
here today, shaking their heads in disappointment at our society.
I, too, have a dream, similar to Martin Luther King. I see the day
when all people, able-bodied and disabled, work together, live together
and are happy together.
If in any way I inspired
you today, I leave you with one question. When you leave today’s meeting, what are you
going to do to ensure you are giving everyone, of all abilities,
a chance to show their true merits, who they really are, and what
they truly can do? ![]()
