July is Disability Pride Month! MICC Board Member Jake Konerza, Senior Director Digital Accessibility with Target Corporation, connected MICC with an opportunity to have a participant join a webinar panel for Target team members on disability, accessibility, and inclusion.
MICC Graduate Jenna Olson ‘20 joined four panelists to share her experiences living and working with autism to an audience of nearly 100 Target team members. The panel was entitled, “Breaking Barriers, Building Futures” and aimed to break barriers by advancing accessibility and inclusion, busting myths, and advocating for change, while building futures by empowering people with disabilities to thrive, lead, and shape what comes next.
Along with the other panelists, Jenna introduced herself as a 2020 MICC Graduate who currently works as a pharmacy technician at CVS. When discussing employment, she shared, “I think that a lot of people misunderstand the fact that no two people with autism/neurodiversity are the same. We may have the same diagnosis on paper but the way we think and view the world is completely different for each person.” She explained that she is very good with eye contact at work, but she struggles to understand sarcasm and often needs to ask to clarify if someone is being serious or not.
During the hourlong webinar, the panelists continued to share their thoughts on misconceptions of those with disabilities, what barriers get in the way of their success in their workplace, and what an inclusive future could look like.
When asked for one action everyone can take this month to support those with a disability, Jenna replied, “Say hi to someone, and if you notice someone struggling, offer to help or say ‘you’re doing a great job!’” Each panelist wrapped up by sharing one item that is frequently in their Target cart. Jenna’s was Crispix cereal!
Thank you to Target, and Board Member Jake Konerza, for this amazing opportunity for one of our participants to share her experiences and highlight the work we do at MICC.