My name is Jose Mendez and I am 28-years-old. I have cerebral palsy and recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Currently I work at an employment office as a workforce information navigator. I am an employment specialist who assists people with disabilities. As a specialist my job is to work with our staff to improve the quality of services for people with disabilities. I also liaise with potential employers to dispel myths about hiring people with disabilities and teach employers about how to make accommodations and attract qualified disabled candidates.

The most challenging thing about growing up as a person with a disability was living around the ignorance that many members of our society have towards disabled people and trying to understand them. The things that helped me get through the difficult times were family, friends; and remembering the goals of the disability civil rights movement.

I encourage all of us that are struggling with discrimination and other forms of oppression to keep working hard toward to better our situations by proactively reading, questioning, researching, and debating education, politics, history, economics and science.