Looking back on this semester, I’ve realized just how much accessibility has shaped my ability to continue building a life I love.
Without remote work and virtual learning, so many things simply would not have been possible for me this year. I would not have been able to:
-Travel for work (London, England)
-Travel for personal learning (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
-Personal travel (Virgin Islands with family)
-Travel to DC for my specialist appointments (and Rare Disease Week advocacy)
All while continuing to balance full-time work while navigating complex health challenges.
Being able to work remotely while studying virtually has allowed me to continue pursuing my goals while managing the wild roller coaster that comes with post viral illness, overactive mast cells, progressive connective tissue disorder issues, and ever-changing orthostatic intolerance concerns, all of which make traditional in-person environments incredibly difficult at times. I look back at how hard it was to manage working in-person, with 50+ hour weeks, schedule doctor appointments, trialing new treatments, and feeling like I was utterly failing because I simply didn’t have the energy to keep showing up.
Virtual learning + remote work isn’t just “a convenience”, it’s been life changing…
What I’ve appreciated most is the ability to create an environment that supports my health instead of constantly fighting against it. I’m able to work and learn from spaces where I can better manage symptoms, regulate my environment, and maintain stability in ways that simply would not be possible otherwise.
There’s something incredibly freeing about realizing your dreams do not have to disappear simply because your body needs a different path to reach them.
Monday afternoon, I submitted my final three papers of the semester and am now awaiting final grades. And I feel so grateful!
Grateful that accessibility has allowed me to continue learning, growing, traveling, working, healing, and building a future for myself all at the same time.
By this time next year, barring any major life changes, I’m on track to graduate with my next degree ✨ (More to come on that… stay tuned.)
Accessibility is so often framed as “convenience” or a handout. But for many people, it’s opportunity, independence, sustainability…
Sometimes it is the very thing that allows people to remain present in the world around them.
What are some things that have helped make work and/or school more accessible for you?
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