In September of 2009, I was five years into a successful career in sales and recruiting when I was paralyzed. I had been making great money doing work that left me feeling accomplished and valued, but I gave it up to focus on my health and family. For the next 13 years, I never entertained going back to work.

If it weren’t for the pandemic, I’d have never been brave enough to return to work. I feared being rejected based on how I looked and not being considered for my talent. I’ve been an overachiever my entire life; everywhere I had worked, pre-wheelchair, I had been successful and valued. My greatest fear was being seen as “not as good as” or “lesser than” by others, just because of my physical appearance. With Zoom interviews I didn’t have to imagine rolling into an interview with a wheelchair. They gave me a chance to level the playing field and feel the same as all other candidates interviewing.

In December of 2021, my three kids were all in school full time, and I was ready for a new challenge. I contacted people I had worked with previously and received positive feedback. Past colleagues were welcoming and excited about me returning to the workforce. My network reviewed my resume and provided suggestions, met with me over Zoom to build my confidence, and referred me to people they knew who were hiring. The labor market was tight, and good people were scarce. The experience I had over the last 13 years had made me a better person and employee, and I knew I had something to offer. I was encouraged.

Within a few weeks I received three job offers. I had my pick of where and how I wanted to work. Through a shared connection on LinkedIn, I was invited to apply for a fully remote recruiting position with a large law firm. I accepted and have worked remotely for a year now. Working remotely offers flexibility to handle the challenges I deal with as a wheelchair user, flexibility to manage my kids’ schedules, and still gives me the professional interaction I was looking for. In the workplace these days, many people work from home either full time or part time, so I’m not “unusual.” Meetings are over Zoom (rarely in person) so people from multiple locations can collaborate.

Now that I’ve worked remotely for a year, I appreciate the option so much. Working from home makes working from a wheelchair much more convenient. Everything is set up with easy access for me — my desk, bathroom, kitchen — and if I have any medical issues during the day, my supplies are all there. I don’t have to stress about accessibility or medical issues and can simply focus on my work during the day.

Remote work makes all the difference for disabled workers and allows us to bring our valuable skill sets back to the market. At the time I didn’t realize it, but now that I’ve gone back to work, I can see that my self-worth is often based on my daily accomplishments. In returning to work I’ve found a new confidence, and love that I again get to feel like I’m contributing to society and my employer.

United Spinal Association’s Pathways to Employment supports people with disabilities seeking job opportunities with resources that include information about benefits, guidance on removing barriers to employment and mentoring. Learn more.