In 1991, when I was 12 years old, I took a trip to Mexico with my family. On the way back, passing through the city of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, we had an automobile accident that unfortunately resulted in paraplegia from a spinal cord injury.

While I was in the hospital, I received rehabilitation training. The staff taught me new ways to do things for myself and, fortunately, I always had the support of my family. Despite being very young when the accident happened, I achieved independence.

I am the youngest of six siblings. Even though they all have their own families now, my siblings treat me as members of their families.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy science at the University of Southern Illinois, Carbondale. At 22, I became coordinator of a summer program for kids with disabilities at Shriners Hospital. We met every Friday and did workshops that taught students how to utilize community services, write resumes and behave during an interview.

I held this job two summers in a row. At 26, I started working at the Center for Independent Living in Southern Illinois. I helped people with disabilities transition out of institutions, and learn how to start independent lives. Unfortunately, the program that paid my salary only lasted nine months.

Then I decided to move to Chicago. It was a new city and I didn’t have anywhere to stay before I found work, so I lived with my father. During my job search a person referred me to Proyecto Visión at the Access Living Center for Independent Living.

The job developer at Visión informed me there was a job opportunity at Access Living itself that might be good for me. I interviewed for the position. Just days later, I received an offer from Access Living to work as a health coordinator for Latinos with disabilities. This program only lasted a year but, in October 2006, I was promoted to coordinator of employment issues for Latinos at Access Living.