September 1, 1939: Hitler invaded Poland, sparking World War II. A few months later, Hitler backdated the order authorizing the systematic killing of disabled people on the same date.

It was a terribly dark day in history; and it also happens to be my birthday. (Well, not 1939, I'm not a vampire. But September 1st.)

While the atrocities of Nazi Germany were devastating across so many people groups, disability abuse is also not exclusive to 1940s Europe.

From “ugly laws” to forced sterilization and institutionalization, we have a long history of deciding where disabled people belong, what kind of lives we’re allowed to have, and what those lives are worth.

Eventually, slowly, things have started to shift.

Disabled people organized. They occupied a federal building for 26 days in 1977 to force implementation of Section 504, allowing students with disabilities to learn alongside their peers (and more).

In 1990, disabled activists left their wheelchairs and crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol to demonstrate what inaccessibility actually looked like.

Later that year, the ADA became law.

I was almost 4.

Today, I turn 40. This is very recent history.

And 36 years after the ADA, we still don’t talk nearly enough about financial independence as a crucial part of disability rights.

SSI still limits an individual recipient to $2,000 in assets, a number that hasn’t changed since I was rocking a teal and neon pink Guess? windbreaker and watching When Harry Met Sally at far too young for that diner scene.

In that same time, median rent in Kansas City has nearly quadrupled, from $324 a month in 1990 to more than $1,200 today, even though Kansas City has long been recognized as one of the nation’s more affordable housing markets.

We tell disabled people to get a job, but we don’t hire them. We tell them to become financially independent, while creating systems that penalize them for saving money.

We celebrate people with disabilities “overcoming” inaccessible systems, then say everyone else must just be lazy.

But today - more disabled people are starting businesses. More of us are talking about economic power, not just access to buildings and bathrooms.

This is why I started The Empower Network.

Here, the people we serve are also the people doing the work. Our board and volunteers are almost all disabled, chronically ill, and/or neurodivergent. And we’d love to transition to paid staff soon to help our programs become sustainable, long-term viable, and expand our impact.

Because the future of disability justice looks like paying disabled people fairly for their work, too.

We must remember the atrocities of the past to both mourn those who were lost, and also help us understand how far we have to go.

The Empower Network is launching a 4-week disability entrepreneurship program in Topeka starting on September 19th, building the KC Disability Collective, and growing our membership services.

And most of this work is still being done by volunteers.

So for my 40th birthday, I’m asking for $4, $40, $400, or whatever feels right to help us keep building this next phase of economic disability justice.

Donate $4, $40, or $400

We’ve spent a very long time fighting for disabled people to be able to enter the room.

But now, with your support, we’re building the whole damn room.

Will you join us?

Stephanie Swanson

Stephanie Swanson is the founder of The Empower Network, a nonprofit working to expand economic opportunity for disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent people. After disability completely changed her own relationship with work in 2022, she became a little obsessed with figuring out how we build better options.

She’s an ICF-certified coach, TEDx speaker, former operations and technology leader, and firm believer that our responsibility to one another means that inclusion is the bare minimum.

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

My first job was easy to identify.

It was the one with the job title, the meetings, the deadlines, and the paycheck.

The second job I was doing was invisible.

I didn’t apply for it. I wasn’t trained for it. There were no performance reviews or vacation days. But over the past five years of living with Long COVID, it has become the hardest work I have ever done.

Before I got sick, I built my life around saying yes. I loved solving problems, juggling competing priorities, and helping people tell their stories. Outside of work, I was an ultrarunner, the kind of person who believed there was almost always a little more left in the tank. If something was hard, you trained harder. If you were tired, you kept going. Effort reliably produced results.

Then COVID rewrote the equation.

A couple of months after my acute infection, I was helping shepherd kids out of cars in the morning carpool line at the school where I worked. Nothing unusual had happened, but as I walked upstairs to my office, I knew something was very wrong. I put on my best game face, calmly closed my office door, crawled underneath my desk, and lay there shaking, breathless, and too stunned to even cry.

It felt as though someone had unplugged the battery that powered my body. I couldn’t will myself to move.

That was the moment I learned there is a profound difference between being tired and having your body simply stop cooperating.

At the time, I didn’t know it was Long COVID. I certainly didn’t consider the word “disabled.” Looking back now, I think that was the first day my body knew before I did.

I became consumed with my second job, which was doing the invisible work required just to make the visible work possible. Every morning became a series of calculations.

Can I wash my hair today, or do I need that energy for a meeting this afternoon?

If I stay thirty minutes late, what will that cost me on Thursday?

Can I invite my niece and nephew for a sleepover this weekend, or will I spend the next two work days in bed?

I’ve learned that joy always comes with an invoice attached.

Pacing involves a ridiculous amount of body math. You are constantly estimating how much energy you have in the tank, how much you’re about to spend, and whether your future self will be able to pay the bill.

The problem is that in Long COVID and ME/CFS bodies, the gas gauge is broken. Some days you think you’re operating with a full tank until the engine suddenly dies on the side of the road.

And the bill doesn’t always come due immediately. Sometimes it arrives two days later in the form of crushing fatigue, migraines, dizziness, or a neuro-immune system that simply refuses to cooperate. By the time you realize you’ve overdone it, it’s already too late. But the school bell still rings reliably at 8 am.

That’s the strange job economy of chronic illness. Every “yes” has to be weighed against what it may cost in work productivity, and the calculations never really stop.

I was extraordinarily fortunate. My employer responded with something many people living with chronic illness never receive: trust.

They let me work from home, rearrange meetings, and work from bed when I needed to. Most significantly, they kept reminding me that even operating at half speed, I was still contributing in meaningful ways.

I don’t take that grace for granted. I know how rare it is.

Many people with Long COVID are forced to navigate formal accommodation processes and disability applications while living with profound brain fog, debilitating fatigue, and an uncertain future. Simply filling out paperwork or advocating for yourself is an impossible task when your system is already stretched beyond its limits. I was spared much of that.

At the same time, grace can be complicated.

Because while those “informal accommodations” made it possible for me to keep working, they also made it possible for me to keep believing I could outwork my illness.

I live alone. I support myself. My health insurance depended on my job. I helped take my young niece to school each morning. There were days when simply getting out the front door required the same strategy I once used during 100-mile races: electrolytes, fluids, caffeine, calories, anti-inflammatories, and sheer determination.

Only this wasn’t an endurance event. This was my Tuesday.

For most of my life, effort and determination had been reliable currencies. Long COVID taught me that biology doesn’t negotiate. No amount of grit or resilience can convince a malfunctioning system to cooperate. That realization forced me to grieve more than my health. I had to grieve the identity I had built around productivity.

For nearly five years, I resisted calling myself disabled.

Not because I believed there was something wrong with disability. If you had asked me before Long COVID, I would have told you I cared deeply about accessibility and inclusion, and I would have meant it.

What I didn’t realize was that I was still carrying a quiet assumption: disability was something that happened to other people. And if I still had the privilege of functioning, no matter the difficulty, surely I was outrunning the “d” word, right?

One day, a wonderful colleague living with chronic illness and disability looked at me with genuine curiosity and asked, “So… you know you’re disabled, right?”

I laughed nervously and kind of stuttered, “Well, no, I mean... not that there’s anything wrong with that...”

I stumbled through an answer that didn’t really answer anything at all. They didn’t argue. They didn’t try to convince me. They simply let the question exist. And in that quiet pause, they gave me the space to arrive at the answer myself.

As time went on, I met more people living with disabilities and chronic illnesses and my lens changed. These were not people who had been left behind. They were leading organizations, creating art, raising families, mentoring others, advocating for change, and making the world better in countless ways—more so than the majority of able-bodied people I know.

More than anything, they seemed deeply aware of who they are and what they bring to the table.

I realized that wasn’t just what I admired. It was what I wanted.

Today, I still do the body math. I still calculate, pace, negotiate, and occasionally get the equation spectacularly wrong. But I’ve taken steps to find work that better matches my capacity. And, most importantly, I’ve stopped spending energy trying to prove to myself that I’m not disabled.

Instead, I’m learning to build a life that honors the reality of who I am today—not who I was before I became ill, and not some imagined future version of my perfect self.

Accepting disability didn’t make my world smaller.

It made it more honest.

And in that honesty, I found something I never expected.

Not just meaningful work.

A place where I belong.

Courtney Baker

After 20 years in the education field, Courtney now serves as the Director of Communications, Engagement, and Development at Bateman Horne Center, where she combines her background in education, storytelling, and lived experience with Long COVID to advocate for people living with complex chronic illnesses.

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

Disability Pride Month this July presented lots of amazing opportunities for The Empower Network. We shared numerous posts on our Substack, all written by members of our community. We had many engaging conversations over on Threads, and we launched our Empower Collective Membership!

This month, we are focusing on more local efforts in our hometown, Kansas City. Our founder Stephanie is leading the way for disability empowerment in our local community.

We are proud to announce that The Empower Network has been chosen to receive the KCSourceLink’s “Forging the Future” grant. This will be funding the KC Disability Collective Feasibility Study - an ecosystem-wide project to create easier navigation of existing disability organizations & resources in the metro area.

Equally exciting, The Empower Network has partnered with the National Disability Institute & Verizon Small Business Digital Ready to support a disability entrepreneurship cohort, in partnership with Omni Circle Group. This cohort will combine resources to provide free devices, grant writing support for the Verizon $10k small business grant, and disability-informed small business education.

This is a great time to get involved with The Empower Network, either by volunteering, donating, following us on socials, or joining The Empower Collective.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸’𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗻

Last week, we gathered an incredible group of leaders for 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸’𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗻, and we’re still thinking about the conversations that were had around those tables.

We brought together people from healthcare, higher education, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, government, business, disability organizations, and the disability community itself to think together about one big, important question:

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀?

One theme surfaced again and again: 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 - 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆, 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.

It’s fundamentally about having the freedom to decide what your life looks like. What made the afternoon so impactful wasn’t just the ideas - it was the people who chose to show up with curiosity & open minds, ready to make a difference.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, especially our host, David Zamierowski, whose belief in the vision helped make the event possible. The momentum coming out of this luncheon is exciting, and we’re looking forward to what is to come.

Thank you to Mindy McVay for the wonderful post about the luncheon over on Midnight Gardens Publishing website.

Thank you to Naomi Hill for capturing our event!

Empower Collective Membership is Open!

Join the Empower Collective

The Empower Collective is our membership program for disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs to receive more hands-on support in their business. This includes members-only events like our coffee hour, tech & business sessions, body doubling sessions, and more. Resources include breathwork sessions, soon to be launched capacity-aware business tools, hands-on workshops, and more.

Membership is free after a $10 application fee, with a suggested monthly donation.

Empower Network Members-Only Events

Tech & Business Support Sessions

Empower Network Members Only

Join us for a live, one-hour support session focused on practical tech and business help. Get hands-on assistance with websites, email, digital tools, workflows, and other day-to-day setup or troubleshooting needs. Submit your questions in advance, share your screen if helpful, and leave with clearer next steps and solutions you can actually use.

📅 Upcoming Session Dates: August 13th, 27th, September 10th, 24th
⏰ Time: 11:30-12:30, Central US
🎟️ Join the Empower Collective Here

Weekly Virtual Coffee Hours

Empower Network Members Only

Join us for our weekly virtual Coffee Hour, a supportive space to connect, share strategies, and spend time with others who understand. Each week centers on a shared theme, with room for conversation, reflection, and mutual support.

📅 Session Dates: Every Wednesday
⏰ Time: 12PM-1PM, Central US
🎟️ Join the Empower Collective Here

Body Doubling Sessions

Join us for a quiet, supportive co-working session designed to help you make progress on whatever matters most. We’ll begin with a brief check-in where everyone shares what they’re working on, followed by focused work time with cameras optional. At the end, we’ll come back together to celebrate what we accomplished.

📅 Upcoming Session Dates: August 17th, 24th, 31st
⏰ Time: 10:00-11:00 AM, Central US
🎟️ Join the Empower Collective Here

Upcoming Events - Open to the Public

Subscribe to our Events Calendar

Art Therapy-based Community Events

with Emporia State Art Therapy Graduate Students

We’re thrilled to partner with Emporia State University to offer monthly therapeutic art activity sessions for our community, led by graduate students. Each session will include a simple, guided art activity and a chance to connect with others in a supportive space. No art experience is needed—just bring yourself and an open mind, ready to explore and create!

⏰ August 10th, September 14th, October 12th | Monday, 12p-1p

🎟️ RSVP Here

Saturday Support Monthly Check-In

Once a month, we open our community Zoom calls up to anyone who would like to join. These calls are designed to be low-pressure, flexible, and welcoming for everyone in our community, focusing on the intersection of our lived experience as disabled people and our collective effort in the workplace. Together, we are chronically sick, disabled and neurodivergent entrepreneurs rewriting the rules of work. Join us, meet the community, and learn what we’re all about.

⏰ August 8th, September 12th | 11AM Central US
🎟️ RSVP Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join the Empower Collective, our membership program for disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs to receive more hands-on support in their business.

Join the Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to fund our work and keep our disability-informed programs accessible to everyone.

Donate

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

We’ve been talking about it all month, so this isn’t news for you. It’s Disability Pride Month.

During this time, we celebrate the tens of thousands of Americans with Disabilities who fought and continue to fight for the right of Americans with disabilities to live independently, work, raise families, and participate in government alongside our non-disabled peers.

I’ve had a complex relationship with my disability. As a young child, I ran and played with other children, and yet early on I knew there were things I couldn’t do. I couldn’t play catch like other kids. I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was 8, and even then, I couldn’t fully turn without having to stop since I lack depth perception. As I got older, I dealt with the realities of having to fight with teachers who refused to make large print copies, of not being able to drive like my peers, and of facing a profession that, despite what they claim, is not overly welcoming to people with disabilities. In the face of so much struggle, why have pride?

In addition to being disabled, I am also bisexual, and I take a lot of my views on pride from the LGBTQIA+ movement. Disability is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s quite normal. Humans have lived with illness and injury since time immemorial. It is easy for many of us to forget that only within the last hundred or so years have we in the United States had access to clean water, nutritious food, and ample healthcare. Vaccines for diseases like polio were invented within living memory. Yet disability is alive and well. The Centers for Disease Control estimates 1 in 4 of today’s 20 year olds will become disabled in their lifetime. As our population ages into the 80s and 90s, the rate of disability in the United States is growing. I am proud of my history as an American with a disability.

I am proud to share the same space as Ed Roberts, Judy Huemann, Brad Lomax, Justin Dart Jr., and countless others. I am proud to know that people with disabilities marched, blocked traffic, chained themselves to buses, occupied federal buildings, and crawled up the Capitol steps for my right to a fully integrated public education and the ability to live independently in my community. I am proud to have spent part of my career helping to share knowledge of that fight.

I am also proud of myself. I’ve lived through a lot. As I’ve written before, living with a disability is a constant exercise in frustration. Every day, I encounter barriers others don’t have to deal with, and yet I’m still here, going strong. I’m proud of how much I’ve accomplished in my life, and I’m proud of those people with disabilities around me who do the same. Having a disability is inconvenient, I won’t lie, but life’s struggles make us who we are.

I’m proud as well to continue the fight, because the fight for disability rights is definitely not over. Thirty-six years after the signing of the ADA, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities continues to be twice as high as our non-disabled peers. We have the technology to treat and prevent more illnesses than every before, and yet the United States consistently ranks the worst among wealthy nations in healthcare access. Millions of Americans live without healthcare, contributing to a rate of disability that is unjustifiable in the wealthiest nation on earth.

This current administration has refused to fund tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, raising healthcare costs for millions of Americans and leading to nearly 5 million more uninsured Americans. At the same time, on the very anniversary of the landmark Olmstead decision, the Department of Justice has argued that public entities are not legally required to treat people with disabilities in the most integrated settings appropriate for their needs, threatening institutionalization for tens of thousands of Americans. Hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid have been proposed that would directly lead to the deaths of millions of Americans with disabilities (ACP Journals). Worse still, we are seeing a resurgence in the eugenics movement that once cost 65,000 Americans their reproductive rights.

Being loud and proud about being a person with a disability is as important as ever. We celebrate in July so that we never forget our mutual struggle and never let down our guard against those who would see us back in the nursing home or worse. We celebrate the millions who have fought and died for us, and we celebrate ourselves and our own personal struggles we have pushed through to be where we are today.

And we invite those of us who aren’t yet disabled to celebrate with us. Our wins are your wins. Even if you never become disabled, you have benefited from our fight and you have fought alongside us. I want everyone to celebrate the amazing history of disability rights in this country.

Jason Hartsfield

Jason is a Learning & Development professional with nearly a decade of experience designing training programs for nonprofit leaders and corporate professionals alike. His work in curriculum design, adult learning, and accessible training strategies is informed by his own lived experience navigating systemic barriers - and a personal commitment to equity and workforce inclusion. Jason supports the Empower Network’s Program & Events.

Want to be involved in Disability Pride Month? Consider downloading our Social Media Sharable Resources Kit through our website - posts, statistics, and graphics pre-made for you to share, ready to go.

Start Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

A map of where business funding comes from, what each kind costs you, and the people whose job is to help you find your way.

When I started learning how business funding works, I didn’t know where to look for a map. I did the only thing I knew to do. I showed up. All kinds of events, hosted by all kinds of groups, for all kinds of audiences, hoping each one would cover something I needed to learn. Sometimes it did. Plenty of other times, I sat through conversations that had nothing to do with me. It took me months to see that the mistake wasn’t which rooms I picked. It was that I never started at the front door, the one place built to point you toward the right room instead of leaving you to find it by luck. I’ll take you to it at the end.

I had the time and access to wander like that. Not everyone does, and that’s why I’m writing this. Your time and energy aren’t endless. I don’t want you spending either one chasing money, or sitting in rooms that were never going to fit you. Here’s a plain map of where funding comes from and what each kind asks of you.

What this can’t do is tell you what to do. I don’t know your business, your health, or your goals. A map shows you the land, not your path through it. Read this as a starting point, not advice. The real help comes at the end, from people who can look at your situation one-to-one.

One question sorts almost everything: what does this money want back from you? Some want nothing. Some want to be repaid. Some want a piece of your business forever. Once you know that, you can tell pretty fast whether it fits.

Funding you keep and never repay

This is the best fit for a lot of small, steady businesses, and it’s the part most people skip.

Grants. Foundations, city and state programs, and industry funds give money you don’t repay or trade ownership for. The catch is that grants are slow and competitive, so start early rather than when you’re almost out of cash.

Pitch contests. Grants with a stage. You compete, and winners leave with money they don’t owe back. Many cities run one.

Funding you repay, but keep your business

This is debt. You pay it back, usually with interest, but you give up no ownership. For most businesses that aren’t built to grow fast, this is the workhorse.

Kiva. Zero-interest loans up to $15,000, funded by a crowd instead of a bank. Rather than a credit score, you line up people from your own network to lend first, and that’s how you prove yourself. It runs in cities across the country. If a bank has already said no, this is often the first yes.

Community lenders (CDFIs - Community Development Financial Institutions). Nonprofit lenders that look past your credit score to understand your actual business. Every region has them. (Kansas City has one called AltCap.) To find yours, search “CDFI near me” or ask a navigator, below.

SBA (Small Business Administration) loans. Government-backed loans offered through banks and nonprofits, with friendlier terms than most. A good fit once you have some history.

One rule holds across all of these. Debt is real, and it gets repaid whether or not the month went your way. Borrow against what you’re sure you can cover, not your best case.

Funding from your own retirement

There’s a route that lets you fund a business with your retirement savings without the early-withdrawal penalty. It gives up no ownership, and it deserves a warning rather than a shrug. You’d be betting money meant to support you later in life, and if the business doesn’t work, it’s gone. It can still be the right call. Just make it with your eyes open.

Accelefund in Kansas City spoke at 1 Million Cups this spring describing this process. Watch the video replay to learn more.

Funding you give up ownership for

This is equity: angel investors and venture funds who give you money for a permanent piece of your business. If you want to know how someone like me thinks, here’s the whole job in one line. We look for upside to justify the risk, and terms to protect the upside.

In plain words: upside is how much bigger your business could get. Risk is the fact that a lot of young businesses don’t make it. Terms are the fine print. So an investor asks whether the upside is worth the risk, then writes the deal to protect it. That’s why equity investors need your business to become much bigger. How fast varies, since some investors are on a clock and others can wait years, but all of them need the upside.

Most businesses don’t need this and shouldn’t chase it. Equity isn’t just a check. It means signing up for that growth and giving up some control, for good. If that’s not what you’re building, and many good, healthy businesses aren’t, then equity funding isn’t a prize you’re missing. It’s a tool for a job you don’t have, and skipping it is a strength rather than a consolation.

Funding from your own customers

The quietest source is the one people forget. Getting paid upfront, taking deposits, and letting customers fund the work before you’re out of pocket. It’s slower, it gives up nothing, and it keeps you in control. For many of you, it’s the foundation.

A quick word on your numbers

When people hear “funding,” they inflate their projections to look impressive. But grant-makers, community lenders, the SBA (Small Business Administration), and investors test the opposite: whether you know your numbers and can hit them. And if your real numbers aren’t built for big growth, that’s not a failing grade. It’s the answer to which parts of this map are yours.

Funding built for your situation

Some funding exists specifically for disabled entrepreneurs, and this is the part of the map I know least. Every state runs a Vocational Rehabilitation agency, and in most states, self-employment can count as a work goal they’ll help you reach. That can mean support with startup costs, equipment, or business planning. Veterans with a service-connected disability have a separate track through the VA (Veterans Affairs). There are also grants aimed specifically at disabled founders.

Two things worth knowing.

The details vary a lot by state, and it generally isn’t a check. It’s an approved plan, built with a counselor, that pays for specific costs like training, equipment, or assistive technology, not a lump sum to fund the business. Many of you have lived in these systems far longer than I have, so I’ll just say the category is real and the people below can help you find your state’s version.

The front door: you don’t have to do this alone

This is the front door I promised you at the start, and it’s what I didn’t find for myself early on. You don’t have to become an expert in any of this. You don’t have to show up everywhere hoping each room happens to have what you need. There are people whose job is to do this with you, for free and on your own schedule.

Navigators point you to the right places, including funding sources for your business. Nearly every state has a Small Business Development Center and a SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) chapter. Both are free, and you can find them through the SBA’s local assistance search. (Kansas City has a great one called KCSourceLink.) You bring the business, they bring the map.

Support teams are the other thing most founders never get: people in your corner. Many of those same places offer free mentoring built for small and first-time businesses, and a navigator can point you to the one that fits.

Where to start

Don’t try to act on all of this at once. Read back through and mark the two or three things that made you think, wait, that might be me. Then bring just those to a navigator.

I built my map of the ecosystem the hard way because I didn’t realize there was a better option, wandering room to room until I found the door. You don’t have to. I’m just hoping this one gets you there faster.

Patrick Toughey

Patrick Toughey is a Principal at T-Serve Capital, an early-stage investment firm in Kansas City, where he partners with tech founders to help them build and grow their businesses.

Want to be involved in Disability Pride Month? Consider downloading our Social Media Sharable Resources Kit through our website - posts, statistics, and graphics pre-made for you to share, ready to go.

Start Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

It all started when I was definitely, decidedly not an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs always seemed so intense in a way that never called to me. Whatever that competitive gene is, it never switched on. Even before I got sick.

I’d always thought of entrepreneurship as something you do when you want to become very rich, and all I’ve ever wanted was time to be creative, take care of the people I love, and - unexpectedly - manage my health.

Throughout the years I’ve worked many jobs: bartender, insurance agent, waitress, Implementation Coordinator, cleaning lady, actress. I’ve always liked active, hands-on work where my mind could find a flow state. The problem was my body had other ideas.

I have an autoimmune disease. For a long time I kept thinking it would pass. I waited for it to do that for nearly 10 years. My capacity fluctuated wildly, which meant I was never quite the dependable hire that companies wanted. Before my disease really set in, I hadn’t missed a day in five years at my first job. Then I started having trouble lifting the pizza trays I’d bussed for years. I’d pause in front of a screen that had been muscle memory and not remember where the buttons were. I was tired in a way that felt permanent and scary. The kind of tired you get with the flu, except the feeling never lifted.

Each job I tried after that had different hours, different demands, and the same outcome: my body wasn’t willing to cooperate long-term. Working 10-hour shifts four days a week sounded good in theory because I’d get three days off. What I found was that all of my energy had to go into the job, leaving my days off and nights for nothing but recovery. I started resenting social events because they cut into the only time I had to rest.

I still built a life I love through all of it. I met my husband Sean, we did all the things you’re supposed to do (slightly out of order), and we moved across the country, which turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. But the work problem followed me everywhere.

By July of 2025, I was burnt out, sicker than I’d ever been, and in a very dark place. That’s when I signed up for The Sjogren’s Summit hosted by Dr. Kara Wada. I needed people who understood, and it went beyond anything I expected. I met a friend, Bexi, and she encouraged me to start an Instagram page as an outlet and a way to keep building community.

So I did. A few months later, that Instagram page had become a portfolio. And then Bexi told me about a new organization designed to help disabled entrepreneurs build their businesses; to give us a leg up with our limited capacity. To give us some equity.

I didn’t consider myself an entrepreneur at that point. I just liked the mission and wanted to help wherever I could.

I met with Stephanie, and as she scrolled through my Instagram, I felt my nerves creep in - sort of like when an inappropriate song comes on in the car with your parents. You just tense up and wait. I carried all of my insecurities into that interview. I hadn’t worked in over a year. I had severely limited energy. I kept hearing all the voices that had called me lazy, flaky, unreliable. Was Stephanie going to see those words written all over my face?

My whole body loosened when she read out loud, “I’m not high, it’s just dry high,” and laughed. She got it.

It’s been nearly a year since I started volunteering with Empower, and what I didn’t expect was how much was actually there. Coffee hours, tech and business support sessions, guest speakers, workshops; all of it free. Free matters more than it sounds when you’ve spent years pouring everything into a traditional job just to survive it, with nothing left over to invest in yourself. These sessions are built for people like me, and I can actually show up for them. My body cooperates with Empower in a way it never did with everything else I’ve tried.

The people in these groups bring everything with them. They’re deeply skilled and navigating the same limits I am, and they don’t hoard what they know. I jumped into Canva without training or a plan, learned by doing, made plenty of mistakes in public, and came out with real skills I can actually build with. I create content for myself and for others. I advocate for Sjogren’s awareness and fight against the myths that have followed the disease around for decades. I contribute to blogs and will soon have one of my own.

What Empower gave me goes beyond tools and resources. It was proof of concept - that there are ways to work that don’t ask you to spend everything you have just to show up. That the mishmash of skills I’d accumulated across a decade of odd jobs and creative projects could actually add up to something. That I could build slowly, without burning down.

And that, my friends, is how I accidentally started becoming an entrepreneur.

Melissa Taylor

Melissa is the founder of AutoImmuneAuntie on Instagram and leads video storytelling at TEN — bringing a background in film and acting to the work of making the disability community’s stories visible, felt, and remembered.

Fun fact: Melissa drives a manual, speaks Italian, and has an unhealthy amount of knowledge about Henry VIII.

Want to be involved in Disability Pride Month? Consider downloading our Social Media Sharable Resources Kit through our website - posts, statistics, and graphics pre-made for you to share, ready to go.

Start Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

This article by appears in Expert Insights, our section for expert tips, tricks, and perspective into work, disability, and chronic illness.

“I need to move to be able to get a better job, but I’m not allowed to save more than $2,000.”

For those in the US on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the government names a resource limit* - the amount the Social Security Administration will let you have before they disqualify you from SSI benefits.

*Resources include cash, money in checking and savings accounts, investments, and certain other assets. Your primary home, one vehicle, and most personal belongings are not counted.

For people with limited income and resources, who SSI is intended to serve, this limit hasn’t been adjusted since it was first set in 1989.

$2000 for an individual.
$3000 for a couple.

Imagine with me for a moment:

You go over that limit, even accidentally due to an unexpected gift from a family member, and you risk losing the income you rely on. But more likely - you risk owing the government “overpayment,” which they can take back through withholding future payments, or even by garnishing wages from an already financially underwater household.

So instead, you learn to live right at the edge of the limit. You aren’t able to save for a car repair, a security deposit for a safer apartment, or retirement. You’re worried about taking the temporary job with the higher income, because the paycheck won’t last but could significantly complicate access to the benefits you rely on to survive.

You learn that the only way to survive is to hold yourself back from gaining better financial footing, because $737 a month from SSI is better than $0.

These resource restrictions were the reality for millions of people with disabilities until 2014, when Congress passed the ABLE Act, creating a new kind of account that allows eligible people with disabilities and those who want to support them to save toward eligible expenses - without putting their SSI, Medicaid, or other needs-based benefits at risk.

Then, in January 2026, ABLE accounts expanded again. The age of disability onset requirement increased from before age 26 to before age 46, making millions more people eligible to open an account.

This FAQ, sourced primarily from the ABLE National Resource Center, is a starting point for understanding how an ABLE account can support you or someone you love.

*View all the FAQs here on the ABLE National Resource Center’s Website

What is an ABLE account?

An ABLE account is a tax-advantaged savings and investment account for eligible people with disabilities, created under Section 529A of the federal tax code (similar to 529 college savings plans). Money in the account grows tax-free, and withdrawals are tax-free as long as they're used for qualified disability expenses. For people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), up to $100,000 in an ABLE account is excluded from the SSI resource limit, allowing them to save far more than the usual $2,000 resource limit without exceeding SSI's resource limit. Funds in ABLE accounts are also generally excluded when determining eligibility for Medicaid and most other federal means-tested programs.

Who’s eligible to open one?

You may be eligible if your qualifying disability began before age 46 and you meet one of two tests:

1. you already receive SSI or SSDI, or

2. a licensed physician signs a disability certification stating that you have a qualifying disability that began before age 46.

If you’re under 18, or can’t manage the account yourself, certain qualified individuals can open and manage it on your behalf. Even then, the account itself is always in the name of the person with the disability.

Important: You do not have to be receiving disability benefits to qualify. Some people qualify based on physician certification alone.

Do I have to live in the state where the account is opened?

This one is a little tricky. The quick answer is no - in most cases, you can open an ABLE account in any state’s ABLE program, regardless of where you live. You aren’t limited to your home state’s plan.

However, your home state may offer state income tax deductions or credits for contributions to its own ABLE program. If you choose another state’s plan, you may miss out on these tax benefits. State plans also differ in their investment options, fees, contribution processes, and additional features.

The best ABLE account isn’t necessarily the one in your state, it’s the one that best fits your financial goals while taking into account any tax advantages your home state offers.

The ABLE National Resource Center has a helpful comparison tool that lets you compare plans side by side before deciding which one is right for you.

How much can I actually save without losing my benefits?

Up to $100,000 in an ABLE account is not counted as a resource for SSI purposes. Go above that, and SSI payments may be suspended (not terminated) until the balance drops back below the limit. For most other federal means-tested programs, including Medicaid and SNAP, there's no comparable $100,000 cap. Any amount in an ABLE account, up to your state’s overall plan limit, is protected. Total plan limits vary by state, ranging from roughly $235,000 to nearly $597,000 in 2026, with most state programs sitting somewhere above $500,000.

On top of the balance limit, there’s an annual contribution limit that anyone - you, your family, friends, an employer, or even distributions from certain trusts - can add to, up to that year’s federal gift tax exclusion amount. If you’re employed and not also contributing to a retirement plan through your job, you may be able to contribute even more through the ABLE to Work provision. The ABLE National Resource Center keeps current-year numbers on its contribution limits page.

Wait… how does someone with disabilities save this amount of money if we were just talking about relying on average SSI benefits around $700 per month?

While SSI recipients have very restrictive resource and income limits, not everyone with an ABLE account receives SSI. Contributions to an ABLE Account can come from the account owner, family and friends, employment income, inheritances, certain trust distributions, investment growth, the sale of a business or other assets, and more.

What can I actually spend this money on?

Qualified disability expenses (QDEs) are defined broadly on purpose. They include education, housing, transportation, employment training and support, assistive technology, personal support services, medical and wellness costs, financial management, legal fees, and basic living expenses like food. A parent can even use funds from a child’s ABLE account to help buy a vehicle the child will be transported in, or a home the child will live in.

Depending on your situation, it may make financial sense to use insurance, public benefits, nonprofit assistance, or other available resources first and reserve ABLE funds for expenses those programs don’t cover.

What happens to the money when the account owner passes away?

Outstanding qualified disability expenses, including funeral and burial costs, are generally paid from the account first. After that, if the account owner received Medicaid benefits at any point after opening the account, Medicaid may claim reimbursement for those costs from what’s left — this is known as Medicaid clawbacks, no matter who funded the account.

It’s important to note that some states limit if and how much Medicaid can claim from an ABLE Account. Account owners can also name a beneficiary for any remaining funds.

Wait... what if my family contributed $20,000 for a down payment to help me become more independent? Can Medicaid really take back money my family contributed?

Potentially, yes. Once money is contributed to an ABLE account, it belongs to the account owner, regardless of who originally made the contribution. If Medicaid payback applies after the account owner’s death, it applies to the remaining balance in the account, not based on who contributed the money.

How do I actually open one?

Most ABLE accounts are opened online, and you can pick any state’s plan (most accept out-of-state residents), though it’s worth checking your own state first in case there’s a tax credit or deduction for using it. You’ll need basic personal information — name, address, date of birth, Social Security number — and bank account and routing numbers for the initial deposit. You’ll also choose the account type (savings, checking, investment, or a combination) and optional features like a debit card.

You don’t have to invest funds right away. Starting with the savings option alone is a completely reasonable first step; you can add investment options later once you’ve had time to learn the plan. The ABLE National Resource Center has state-by-state comparison tools if you want to see costs and features side by side before you pick.

Why this matters for Disability Pride Month

An ABLE account doesn’t erase every barrier or even provide access to many of the life-changing supports people with disabilities could benefit from.

In a world where people with disabilities often have to fight insurance companies for medically necessary wheelchairs, prosthetics, and other equipment, where out of pocket costs for an emergency surgery can be thousands of dollars - an ABLE account can be the difference between bankruptcy and financial stability.

It doesn’t fix the extra costs that come with disability. The National Disability Institute estimates that households that include an adult with a disability need, on average, about 28% more income to achieve the same standard of living as otherwise similar households without a disability.

But it does help provide something that had been missing: the ability to save for a future you get to define, without being punished for it.

If you’re eligible and haven’t looked into it yet, the ABLE National Resource Center (ablenrc.org) is the best place to start. And if you already have an account, tell someone else who’s still keeping their savings under $2,000.

That habit doesn’t have to be permanent anymore.

Stephanie Swanson, ICF-ACC

Stephanie is the Founder and CEO of The Empower Network. After her life & career was upended by chronic illness, she turned her experience into a mission: to create a community where entrepreneurs navigating health challenges can still find purpose, connection, and meaningful work.

She also works as a life & career coach, with special emphasis on the chronic illness & disability community.

Want to be involved in Disability Pride Month? Consider downloading our Social Media Sharable Resources Kit through our website - posts, statistics, and graphics pre-made for you to share, ready to go.

Start Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

Announcing the KC Disability Collective: A collaborative project of The Empower Network.

The KC Disability Collective is a developing community hub for disability-related resources, organizations, businesses, events, advocacy efforts, and collaborations throughout the Kansas City region. Our goal is to make it easier for people to find one another, work together, share opportunities, and strengthen the disability community as a whole.

This group brings together disabled people, caregivers, advocates, nonprofit organizations, service providers, community leaders, disability-owned businesses, researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, and anyone working to improve inclusion and accessibility.

Why does this matter?

Kansas City has an incredible disability community. There are nonprofits, support groups, service providers, disability-owned businesses, advocates, researchers, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and people doing amazing work every single day.

And somehow, we all keep asking the same question:
"𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁... 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗜 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?"

We've lost track of how many conversations have gone something like:
"Oh, you need help with that? You should talk to ________."
"There's actually an organization that does that."
"There's a support group for that."
"They've been around for years."

And the response is almost always:
"𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖."

The problem usually isn't that the resources don't exist. It's that they're scattered across different organizations, websites, newsletters, and personal networks. So much of disability support in Kansas City still depends on knowing the right person, having the right insurance, the right transportation, the right sets of diagnosis, care, or demographic boxes checked.

THAT is why we're starting the KC Disability Collective.

The goal is simple: make it easier for people to find each other through the open format of social media.

To help organizations find other organizations to collaborate on projects.

To expand support for the disability community beyond the individual and the organizations, but to create a network where these questions can be answered.

We want to connect disabled people, caregivers, organizations, service providers, advocates, researchers, businesses, and community leaders who care about accessibility and inclusion in Kansas City.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱:
"I wish I'd known about this sooner."
"I didn't realize that organization existed."

That's exactly why this project matters.

We're just getting started, and we'd love to have you join us! 🎉

There are several ways to participate:

- Join the Facebook group and introduce yourself: KC Disability Collective
- Add your disability-focused organization, business, or services to the community resource directory: Resource Directory Form
- Donate to support the development of the collective: Donate Here
- Sign up as a volunteer to help moderate the group, verify the resource directory submissions, or coordinate newsletter & meeting content: Volunteer Here
- Share with others who may benefit from these connections.

We can't wait to see the collaborations, partnerships, and growth that comes from connecting one of the most innovative, diverse groups of people to each other to solve big problems!

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗖 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀 & 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀:

The Empower Network, Inc (501c3 project sponsor)
Midnight Garden Publishing
Disabled but Not Really
Service for United People
Clearing for Launch
LadyCo Brookside
Beyond This
Stephanie Swanson Coaching
TheChronicCEO
BlendHQ
Midwest House
Blazing Star Financial

and more!

The KC Disability Collective is a community hub for disability-related resources, organizations, businesses, events, advocacy efforts, and collaborations throughout the Kansas City region. Our goal is to make it easier for people to find one another, work together, share opportunities, and strengthen the disability community as a whole.

This group is for disabled people, caregivers, advocates, nonprofit organizations, service providers (for-profit or non-profit), community leaders, disability-owned businesses, researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, and anyone working to improve inclusion and accessibility.

Where to find the KC Disability Collective:

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1994513817871826

Website (just a landing page for now): https://kcdisabilitycollective.org/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590617466865

LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kc-disability-collective

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/kcdisabilitycollective/

Email address: kcdisabilitycollective@gmail.com

Want to be involved in Disability Pride Month? Consider downloading our Social Media Sharable Resources Kit through our website - posts, statistics, and graphics pre-made for you to share, ready to go.

Start Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

We all work for paychecks promised by a boss. But we never get the amount promised. Why? Because every paycheck has a stub and that stub has lines which take away our pay. American workers understand that they are paying for retirement benefits but few understand the disability insurance benefits they are purchasing. Millions of Americans pay into Social Security’s disability system with their paychecks and have little idea of what they have purchased. Lack of knowledge can be devastating when illness or injury occurs.

American workers pay for Social Security’s Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance programs, and for Medicare with each paycheck deduction. Every employer matches those deductions dollar for dollar. About $1.308 trillion was paid into the Social Security trust funds in fiscal year 2025 and more than 70 million American received monthly support. Of that number, about 15 million are receiving Social Security disability benefits.

This paper will discuss three important facts people need to know about the disability insurance programs administered by Social Security:

1. What are the basic requirements of Social Security’s two primary disability programs?

2. How does Social Security decide whether someone is totally disabled?

3. Isn’t there significant fraud in this program causing a waste of tax dollars?

1. Social Security Disability programs’ basic requirements: SSDI and SSI

The Social Security Administration administers two primary disability programs. There are some subsets which may be the subject of future discussions. The first program is Title II of the Social Security Act known as Social Security Disability Insurance benefits also called “SSDI.” The second program is Title XVI of the Social Security Act and is called Supplemental Security Income or “SSI.” The differences are important.

A. SSDI requires tax payments.

Your payroll deductions for “OASDI” are your payment of insurance premiums for coverage under Social Security’s programs. To qualify for SSDI you must have paid into the Social Security system for at least 40 quarters in your lifetime, and for 20 quarters of the 40 quarters preceding the onset of becoming totally disabled. You can, and should, check your own quarters of coverage periodically by opening a My Social Security account at www.ssa.gov. This should be a basic financial planning step for every person who has paid into the Social Security System. Since this SSDI coverage is purchased with payroll taxes there are no limits on assets or unearned income.

B. SSI is “means tested.”

SSI requires that the Claimant have minimal financial resources. First, the Claimant must have less than $2,000 in any type of financial asset other than a home if living in it, and one car. Bank accounts, U.S. savings bonds, IRAs, 401ks and cash value life insurance are all examples of possible disqualifying assets. The second requirement is that the Claimant have no income. Money coming in from work, savings or family gifts will all count against SSI benefits. This program is for people who are totally disabled and have very limited financial resources.

C. The medical test is identical.

Both programs have the same medical test for benefits. In legal language, both require proof of the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment (or combination of impairments) that is either expected to result in death, or that has lasted or expected to last at least 12 consecutive months.

Stripped of the legal mumbo jumbo, this means that a Claimant must prove medical symptoms which are so severe that they prevent the ability to perform any type of full-time work, considering age, education and work experience, for a period that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

The key point here is that the focus is NOT on diagnosis – the focus is upon proof of symptoms and their impact on the Claimant’s ability to function in a work setting.

Summary: SSDI – totally disabled, worked and paid FICA taxes; SSI – totally disabled and indigent. For both, must prove medical symptoms preclude ability to work.

2. Social Security will focus on medical charts – that is the main evidence.

A common misunderstanding is Social Security’s definition of “proof” for total disability. First, other than in Compassionate Allowance situations, a “diagnosis” does not mean total disability. People work with fibromyalgia and cancer and multiple sclerosis and with bipolar disease and with any other type of diagnosis. The focus in any Social Security disability application is on the evidence of the “symptoms” from the diagnoses and how those symptoms impact a person’s ability to do basic work activity on a full time basis.

However, Social Security has a restrictive view of proof of symptoms and their impact on function. A Claimant’s description of pain, fatigue, weakness, frustration, anger alone will NOT be sufficient to prove total disability. Nor will the testimony of spouses, family members, friends and past employers alone be sufficient to prove total disability. These are “medical cases” that focus on the clinical medical charts of the treating medical specialists.

Medical records are the core evidence in any Social Security analysis. Reports from doctors are nice, and are considered, but are rejected if they are inconsistent with the medical charts. It is critical that anyone seeking this help understand what symptoms SSA will be expecting given their medical issues, and what type of doctors SSA will expect you to be seeing for treatment. It will be what those doctors write down while examining and treating their patient that will be the evidence in a disability case.

Summary: the focus of SSA is on your medical charts, not your diagnoses.

3. In this program “waste, fraud and abuse” are myths.

There is much street talk about fraud in the SSA disability program. However this is not supported by any studies. It is false. There are no credible, acceptable studies that support widespread fraud in these programs. There are administrative errors, especially after government efficiency programs led to a decimation of the Social Security staff and many people with experience left the agency.

More work is being done by fewer staff so more administrative errors do occur. However, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimate that the true fraud rate in these programs is between 0.006 and 0.5%. People in the United States illegally do not get disability benefits. With few exceptions even people who are in the USA legally, but not citizens, cannot receive SSI unless they are here as refugees, under grant of asylum or have served in the armed forces. SSA has an amazing record of cost-efficient (if very slow) administration. When measured against incoming tax dollars or total benefits paid, the SSA’s SSDI administrative expenses generally range from 0.7% to 1.6%. Because of the highly complex asset and income calculations, SSI administrative expenses are about 7-8% of its expenses.

However, this should be contrasted with the vaunted “private sector” and the purported efficiencies of the private insurance disability industry. The administrative expense ratio of the private disability insurance carriers in the US are reported by numerous sites to be between 20% and 30% - far in excess of SSA’s costs for operation.

Summary: SSA’s disability programs are not rife with fraud and operate with exceptional cost-efficiency.

Conclusion: Social Security’s disability programs are an incredibly critical safety net for US citizens suffering from serious medical conditions and symptoms. Understanding the programs and the law are important for people suffering from medical issues, for family members, for medical providers and for counselors and advisors. These programs serve Americans with disabilities well and with efficient, albeit very slow, performance.

Jeffrey A. Rabin

Jeffrey Rabin is an attorney representing people nationwide needing Social Security disability benefits. A lawyer since 1980, Mr. Rabin found his firm in 1988 and has represented people at all levels of the administrative process and in the federal courts.

Want to be involved in Disability Pride Month? Consider downloading our Social Media Sharable Resources Kit through our website - posts, statistics, and graphics pre-made for you to share, ready to go.

Start Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

This essay appears in Stories & Voices, our section for member and contributor reflections on work, disability, and chronic illness.

I realized, far too late, that I wasn’t going to be able to drive myself home safely that day.

It was January 2025. Two and a half years of experience with this confusing illness, and I still was pushing myself far too hard.

Grocery shopping remained one of my last death grips on my former life. Because if I gave up selecting my own produce, what would that mean about me?

Armed with dark sunglasses, noise cancelling headphones, and Colby the service dog.

Leaning heavily on what my physical therapist dubbed the “shopping-cart-walker” to not collapse.

Sitting on the pallet of sparkling water to take a break, mid-way through Aldi’s three-and-a-half aisles of consolidated efficiency, because even that was too much.

Standing in the cold parking lot, digging up the last recesses of energy, arms visibly shaking, loading the groceries.

I closed the hatch just as a gray-haired man walked past me in the parking lot.

You know how well-meaning people are constantly telling us: “Quit trying to be so independent! Just ask for help!” ?

Finally, 32 months into fighting to maintain my independence, I decided to shove aside my stubborn pride for the first time in public.

“Sir, would you like a cart?”

He turned partway towards me, continuing walking. “No, I don’t need one, thanks.”

I swallowed quickly, leveling my trembling voice as tears of pure fatigue started to bubble up unbidden.

“Would you mind taking it back for me?”

He paused, turned slowly, and looked me up and down for a few seconds... then shook his head with a look of annoyance, or maybe disgust.

“No. You can do it yourself.” And walked off.

We all interact with each other through a thin veil of assumptions, measuring, weighing, judging those around us, as if 99% of their body isn’t invisible to the naked eye.

As if we can trust ourselves to truly observe the person in front of us, rather than to simply look and pass judgement on an embarrassingly minuscule amount of information.

As if the mind-gut connection isn’t infinitely more complex than the over-simplified thermodynamic calculation of calories in - calories out = “hot bod summer.”

As if the longevity biohacking billion-dollar industry could possibly profess to understand the complexity of our delicate interstitial spaces, where the almost imperceptible fissure in the dural mater can be dismissed by the most investigative of specialists and yet somehow instantly understood by the frequency practitioner through knowledge gleaned from thousands of years of careful observation.

As if our abysmal powers of observation ever truly extended beyond a few key binaries, judging good/not-good based on “5 Tricks to your Best Summer Body Yet” and “Top Hacks to Build Muscle Fast,” assuming that age = frailty and youth = health.

As if we ever had the power to see the delayed treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis that led to medications and limited movement and depression that in turn created excessive weight gain, and instead judge the overweight person in front of us as “Lazy.”

As if we ever wanted to understand that poverty and obesity are connected, and the connective tissue isn’t food stamps and laziness but food deserts and postponed medical care and working three manual jobs and mental fatigue.

As if we ever wanted to truly see the one young person you didn’t offer your seat to on the bus was 6 weeks into an oral chemo treatment, quite literally fighting for his life, but the 68-year old, thin woman you did offer your seat to just ran a half marathon last week and is in the best shape of her life.

Mental shortcuts - called heuristics by psychologists - have been defined as a critical evolutionary cognitive life-hack, helping us to survive by creating neural shortcuts that scream at us: bright red insects = danger!

But heuristics can also be infinitely harmful, creating shortcuts straight to ageism, racism, sexism, and yes - also ableism.

The theme for Disability Pride Month this year is “The World Is Better With Us”

But for this to be a useful slogan, we also have to be able to define who “us” is.

Disability Pride Month is a chance for us to intentionally confront those shortcuts, and redefine our relationship with the word “disability.”

Because:

• Disabilities can be completely invisible (e.g. brain injury)

• They can be dynamic, sometimes appearing without warning (e.g. seizures)

• They can be visible, but not affect intellectual capacity (e.g. 60% of Cerebral Palsy)

• They can affect young, healthy-appearing people (e.g. some cardiac conditions)

• A disabled person can be completely independent (e.g. partial paralysis)

• A disabled person can be highly capable and still need caregiving support for some tasks (e.g. quadriplegic)

We understand these anecdotally, but experientially?

The young man walking into Walmart from the accessible parking spot grinds against those hard-worn neural pathways (unless he bears a veteran’s clothing, posture, or haircut).

We take the quickest mental shortcut, and far too often land on “this person is probably abusing the system” rather than “I wonder what I’m not seeing.”

We see these messages all the time on social media, like this post, and wonder how others are judging us, and determine that our needs won’t be met if we ask.

I sat in the Aldi parking lot for 45 minutes before the tremors abated, the mental fog cleared, and it was finally safe for me to drive home.

I doubt that man from the parking lot remembers me, but I remember him.

The unfortunate reality is that every one of us has been him in some way. We have all looked at another person and passed judgement.

And we have all been wrong.

Because we know, when the cards have turned… we hesitate to ask for support after months or years of trying to prove, to ourselves as much as anyone else, that we can still do it. That we’re still capable. That we’re still worthy.

And because we hesitate to ask for what we need, we often judge those who have reached the point of asking as too needy, lazy, or simply not trying as hard as we are.

But when we take a step back, we all want to live in a world where we help each other.

We all want to live in a world where people are able to participate in life more fully.

Where people are empowered to support themselves, without having to ask for help all the time.

The Empower Network exists to help provide that pathway to independence.

Not because people with disabilities, chronic illness, and neurodivergence are lazy, taking shortcuts, or not trying as hard as everyone else.

Because every person deserves a community that begins with curiosity instead of assumptions, dignity instead of judgment, and support instead of suspicion.

Maybe that’s what this year’s Disability Pride Month theme really means.

The World is Better With Us.

It’s time we finally stop pretending we can tell who “us” is by just looking.

Stephanie Swanson, ICF-ACC

Stephanie is the Founder and CEO of The Empower Network. After her life & career was upended by chronic illness, she turned her experience into a mission: to create a community where entrepreneurs navigating health challenges can still find purpose, connection, and meaningful work.

She also works as a life & career coach, with special emphasis on the chronic illness & disability community.

Want to be involved in sharing about Disability Pride Month? Consider downloading our Social Media Sharable Resources Kit through our website - posts, statistics, and graphics pre-made for you to share, ready to go.

Start Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

Disability Pride Month is recognized every July in honor of the ADA anniversary and it is something that should be celebrated by everyone in the world regardless of ability. Despite all the gloom and sadness in the world today, it is an incredible time to live with a disability and tremendous progress is slowly but surely happening.

The ADA was the biggest piece of civil rights legislation since the 1960’s and it showed how tremendous change can still happen if we work together. Because of it discrimination against people with disabilities is prohibited and businesses can hire us, government programs and services are accessible to us, and businesses have to be accessible and remove barriers for us. These are incredible gains, but ableism is still rampant and our community has much work ahead to fight to make the world more accessible. We especially need to educate our own community so current and future generations can protect things like the ADA and make the world more accessible and inclusive.

The ABLE Act passed 12 years ago and consequently, we have been able to save money without losing our benefits, which we previously would’ve been penalized for. Modeled after 529 plans and IRAs, ABLE accounts are accounts that all states offer where people with disabilities and their families can contribute $20,000 per year that grows tax free where we can save up to $100,000 without losing SSI and even higher for Medicaid. If you couldn’t have more than $2,000 in assets, now being able to save $100,000 can change your life overnight and dramatically improve your quality of life. In January 2026, ABLE Accounts became available for people diagnosed with their disability before age 46, another major victory in disability equity.

Crucial for building lives for the long term, the Savings Penalty Elimination Act which would raise the SSI Asset Limit for the first time since 1984. It is not currently scheduled for a vote, but we can ask our representatives to support it on the MDA Advocacy Website. Another important piece of legislation is the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act which would end the subminimum wage, bringing further equity to the disability community.

Several pieces of legislation have been passed in the last decade that should, in theory, help the everyday lives of disabled people, but unfortunately it does not always play out that way. For infrastructure, “in November 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law… We find that the law has been associated with an overall increase in ground transportation capital investment compared with previous years, but that increase is concentrated among highway projects” - not concentrated on public transit, which would help many disabled people.

For air travel, several rules were passed in 2024 to help passengers with disabilities, but the Department of Transportation has paused enforcement of these rules with no indication of when enforcement will resume. Infrastructure, whether public transit or air travel, serves as the backbone of our lives in so many ways - it helps us get to where we want to go. We hope that improvements continue to stack up to support disabled people.

Looking to our activists on the front lines for guidance and strength, we celebrate them during Disability Pride Month. Last year, we sadly lost one of the biggest heroes in the disability community, Alice Wong, who was dedicated to amplifying disabled stories and pushing back on ableism through storytelling, advocacy, and community organizing. She showed us all how one individual can dramatically transform the nation for all disabled Americans, and her example resonated with me in particular.

Believing the government can help improve society is a central tenet to who I am. My experience has been transformative in watching advocacy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy accomplish big things. I have witnessed firsthand how change gets made and am continually encouraged on our mission to find a cure.

As the Vice President of All Wheels Up, my work has helped create the Accessible Air Travel industry, made Air Travel safer and more dignified for millions of disabled travelers, and laid the path for the first wheelchair space in the cabin of airplanes in the next several years.

Let’s each find pride in overcoming our disabilities and being part of an amazing community looking to make the world more accessible and inclusive.

Alan Chaulet

You can find Alan Chaulet on Substack.

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join as a Member

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Donate

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

On November 6, 2008, everything I knew crashed to the floor.

Literally.

I lost my grip on a coffee cup and watched in slow motion as it shattered across the tiles. That moment was the culmination of a journey that had begun four years prior.

My life shifted irreversibly on December 22, 2004. I fell backward on the ice. Instinctively, my left hand was clutching a briefcase—shot upward to protect my head from the sidewalk. The damage to my wrist was immediate and permanent. Doctors told me I would likely never work again. One doctor predicted I wouldn’t survive past the age of 40 due to complex neurological complications.

I am 49 now.

That single fall triggered a life-long struggle involving temporary paralysis and a cascade of rare conditions. My timeline of diagnosis reads like a medical mystery: CRPS Type I in August 2008, Primary Lymphedema on Black Friday later that year, and finally, in 2012, the revelation that my paralysis was partly caused by Wartenberg’s Migratory Neuropathy Syndrome (WMNS).

The WMNS diagnosis became the key to another puzzle: severe food sensitivities. It turned out my body couldn’t heal because it was constantly fighting corn and corn-derived allergens. For years, my immune system was under attack every time I ate, preventing muscle recovery and exacerbating pain.

By 2015, I finally sorted out my diet. Removing those trigger foods allowed my pain levels to plummet and my strength to return. In 2017, I began working part-time again, briefly reaching full-time status in 2018.

But the physical healing was only half the battle. This journey forced me to confront deep-seated internalized ableism. I had been taught that my worth was tied strictly to my professional ability to work and climb a corporate ladder. While in my personal life it was dependent on the value I provided for others. As a disabled person, I feared society no longer saw me as valuable. I struggled immensely to accept support, viewing it as a failure rather than a necessity.

To move forward, I had to reject that narrative. A turning point came when I committed to using forearm crutches. There is a profound misunderstanding among the non-disabled world about what happens when we choose mobility aids. They see the device as a sign of weakness; I see it as a strategy for survival.

One outing without crutches—just 30 minutes—can leave me bedridden for three weeks recovering.

But with them? I can rest for a few hours at night and wake up ready for the next day. Using my aid didn’t limit me; it gave me my freedom back.

The hardest part of living with a disability isn’t the outside world’s comments or stares; it is our own thoughts. I have my life back because I chose to live despite the voices telling me I shouldn’t.

This is why The Empower Network matters to me. Most of us with disabilities or chronic conditions spend our days isolated, working from home. We often feel invisible. The Empower Network breaks that isolation. It gives us a community to chat with, to bounce ideas off, and to offer real, lived-experience support.

We are building a future where we don’t just survive but thrive together.

Amy Graves

Amy Graves is a passionate advocate for health-conscious consumers, speaker, a published author, and food educator. As the founder of Hidden Consumers Consulting, Amy coaches and educates the public on the connection between the food we eat and our health.

Want to be involved in Disability Pride Month? Consider downloading our Social Media Sharable Resources Kit through our website - posts, statistics, and graphics pre-made for you to share, ready to go.

Start Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join The Empower Collective

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Support the Mission

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

This article was originally shared on Midnight Gardens Publishing for Disability Pride Month by Callie Summers, one of our Empower Network volunteers.

Expressing ourselves effectively through the written word has become even more vital with the rise of AI. Every single one of us uses writing every single day to accomplish our tasks, whether it’s sending a text message, writing an email, posting online, or jotting down a list.

Like many of you, writing has been a part of my life since I was very young. A little kid with a lot of feelings and thoughts, I was encouraged to write them down. Writing is the skill set that has carried me through many industries, companies, relationships, and has helped me to express myself effectively in a multitude of circumstances.

As my diagnoses started trickling in (starting at age 11), I knew words were a powerful tool to communicate my experiences. Whether those were incidents of pain or joy, I began to see the outcomes of sharing my story.

Disabled stories are part of our everyday lives. In fact, “an estimated 1.3 billion people – or 16% of the global population – experience a significant disability today” (WHO). Disability will impact every single person at some point - either through their own experience, or that of a loved one.

It’s a population someone could join at any time, and one that we often resist identifying with due to social stigma and accompanying shame, even as our bodies decline or struggle to fit into the traditional mold.

We live in a society that confers worth based on the measure of ability or capacity each individual has to contribute to the economy - a sentiment that quickly gets challenged and dismantled once faced with the reality of disability.

(continued below)

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Membership is free after a $10 application fee, with a suggested monthly donation.

Empower Network Members-Only Events

Tech & Business Support Sessions

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Join us for a live, one-hour support session focused on practical tech and business help. Get hands-on assistance with websites, email, digital tools, workflows, and other day-to-day setup or troubleshooting needs. Submit your questions in advance, share your screen if helpful, and leave with clearer next steps and solutions you can actually use.

📅 Upcoming Session Dates: July 2nd, July 16th, July 30th
⏰ Time: 11:30-12:30, Central US
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Join us for our weekly virtual Coffee Hour, a supportive space to connect, share strategies, and spend time with others who understand. Each week centers on a shared theme, with room for conversation, reflection, and mutual support.

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⏰ Time: 12PM-1PM, Central US
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Join us for a quiet, supportive co-working session designed to help you make progress on whatever matters most. We'll begin with a brief check-in where everyone shares what they're working on, followed by focused work time with cameras optional. At the end, we'll come back together to celebrate what we accomplished.

📅 Upcoming Session Dates: July 6th, July 20th
⏰ Time: 10:00-11:00 AM, Central US
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Art Therapy-based Community Events

with Emporia State Art Therapy Graduate Students

We’re thrilled to partner with Emporia State University to offer monthly therapeutic art activity sessions for our community, led by graduate students. Each session will include a simple, guided art activity and a chance to connect with others in a supportive space. No art experience is needed—just bring yourself and an open mind, ready to explore and create!

⏰ July 13 | Monday, 12p-1p

Saturday Support Monthly Check-In

Once a month, we open our community Zoom calls up to anyone who would like to join. These calls are designed to be low-pressure, flexible, and welcoming for everyone in our community, focusing on the intersection of our lived experience as disabled people and our collective effort in the workplace. Together, we are chronically sick, disabled and neurodivergent entrepreneurs rewriting the rules of work. Join us, meet the community, and learn what we’re all about.

⏰ July 11 | 11AM Central US
🎟️ RSVP Here

Read the rest of the headline article here:

So many people with disabilities find that a typical 9-5 or shift job does not allow them to take care of themselves like they should, burning out or worsening their flares - if they are able to work at all - and many end up looking outside the normal or expected career path for their own livelihood.

Many people with disabilities often choose entrepreneurship reluctantly - not because they dreamed of freedom or independence, but because they couldn’t fit anywhere else.

Stories about disability matter deeply because they end up as a script, a potential blueprint for others in similar situations. These stories can dictate social norms around self-determination, identity, and speculative possibility. Despite a growing presence of disabled characters on screen and across the media landscape, these narratives are rarely written or produced by disabled creators, and they often rely on sentimental or inspirational tropes that reinforce rather than subvert ableist and gendered hierarchies.

Chrononormativity (the societal expectation that individuals should follow a standardized, linear timeline for life events) in non-disabled lives cannot be the framework of success for how a disabled life should unfold. Each disabled person should be able to dictate the gold standard for themselves, but that will require a collective reimagining of disabled and non-disabled futures.

We must contend with the political economy of storytelling - the structural barriers that limit disabled participation in sharing stories and getting in front of an audience - tasks that typically involve a mountain of work too high to scale. These barriers shape the authenticity and diversity of the stories that reach audiences.

We have the opportunity to share our own stories - our bid for representation operates not only as reflection but as cultural production: a site where ideology and praxis converge. Illuminating and amplifying marginalized voices to include (to a higher degree) disabled ones can shift collective understandings of disability from frameworks of tragedy and inspiration to ones of relatability, complexity, and agency.

I myself have had to contend with an unconventional approach to vocation. I am in my mid-thirties and am going back to school for a second Master’s - this time in Social Work. I am aiming to have a career that I can operate from home and eventually (after years of supervision and full time work) choose my own schedule as I prepare for my disabilities to worsen as I age.

I tried the 9-5 route with massive tech companies, small start-ups, clients through my own LLC, and nonprofits. None offered the flexibility and support I need to effectively show up in a workplace, so I am forging my own path. I know I am not alone, due in part to the wonderful work of support systems provided by The Empower Network.

July is Disability Pride Month.

This year’s theme is “The World Works Better With Us” and I couldn’t agree more.

The more we share our stories, the more disability will be a top-of-mind consideration for non-disabled folks. Please consider sharing your story with us here, and you’ll have the opportunity to be featured in an upcoming Empower Network newsletter.

For Disability Pride Month, we are looking for many stories (talking about your business is allowed - it demonstrates why this work matters) so please apply!

The disabled community around the world is growing and connecting and you have a chance to be a part of its blooming - won’t you join us?

Submit your story here!

Author Bio:

Callie lives in Portland, OR with her dog Oakley. They love to enjoy the beauty of nature, play D&D, and spend time with friends. She loves volunteering with The Empower Network as a way to advocate for her disability.

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join the Empower Collective, our membership program for disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs to receive more hands-on support in their business.

Join the Empower Collective

Donate to fund our work and keep our disability-informed programs accessible to everyone.

Donate

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Inclusion Statement

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

Twelve Years

In the pancreatic cancer world, twelve years is a number you don’t see on the charts. People look at me now—the 30-year clinical veteran, the former professor, the TEDx speaker—and they think I “beat” it. They see a success story.

They didn’t see me in the wheelchair.

They didn’t see me after surgery, so broken that I could only shuffle with an awkward gait. It took years to get a diagnosis for why my legs wouldn’t work: a spinal stroke. I had to learn how to live in a body that had been decimated by the very thing that saved my life. I fought my way out of that wheelchair, but leaving it behind didn’t mean I was healed; it just meant the battle shifted.

The Turtle on Its Back

Even now, at Year 12, I’m not cured in the way people think. I’ve just adapted to being unwell.

My daily life is a relentless cycle of management. There are endless medications for chronic diarrhea and debilitating abdominal cramps, and a handful of supplements just to keep my levels stable. Then there are the regular IV infusions for iron, because my body simply won’t absorb nutrients on its own. Despite what the brochures promise, I can’t even digest a simple meal without taking pancreatic enzymes.

And yet, despite all the pills and the treatments, the incontinence remains. I have tried every clinical suggestion, every specialized medication, every dietary change. Nothing has worked.

Because of this, spontaneity is a thing of the past. I live my life according to a map of public toilets. I don’t just go out; I prepare for a mission. I carry Lysol and wipes everywhere. I rarely eat out because the stakes are too high—one wrong meal once sent me to the hospital for three days; another put me in urgent care.

When I decline an invitation or act difficult about a restaurant choice, people think I’m being unreasonable or unsociable. They don’t realize I am protecting myself. I am managing a level of stress that would break most people, just so I can have an afternoon in the sun.

People have actually said to me, “Just wear an adult diaper and you’ll be fine”. Are you kidding me? Cancer has already taken my health, my career, my strength, and my spontaneity. I refuse to let it take the last of my dignity.

The Reality of the Shadow

Even when I’m in the infusion room, nurses sometimes say things like, “But you seem so energetic!” while prepping my IV. They mean it as a compliment, but it feels like a misunderstanding.

The truth? Being around people gives me energy. It’s almost like I’m trained to perform—I don’t know how else to explain it. I can put on a show for a little while; I can be the “Professor” for an hour. But as soon as I get home and close the door, the mask drops. I am utterly exhausted. That energy isn’t health; it’s a temporary spark that costs me everything later that evening. When that spark goes out, the physical reality of what this disease has done to my body takes over completely.

To this day, if I’m lying flat on my back, I can’t just sit up. I have zero abdominal strength. I’m like a turtle stuck on its back, struggling for leverage just to get upright.

When I walk too much, my body gives me away. My gait widens. My hands go to my hips just to keep me steady. My friends don’t even ask if I’m tired anymore; they see my posture and know the battery is dead.

The Clinician’s Curse

Having 30 years in medicine is a double-edged sword. I can read the journals and understand my own case, but that knowledge can be a curse.

When most people hear “long-term survivor”, they feel hope. I think of the case studies. I think of Steve Jobs. I thought: If he had billions of dollars, the best doctors on the planet, and a neuroendocrine tumor (which usually has better odds), and he still died... how am I supposed to survive?

I watched Ruth Bader Ginsburg live for years after her surgery, only for the cancer to come back decades later. If the most powerful people with the best supportive care couldn’t “win” why would I?

Closing the Truth Gap

I’m writing this because we spend all our time talking about scans and tumor markers, and almost no time on the reality of living in the wreckage.

We talk about “information gaps and clinical trial gaps” —and as a BIPOC woman, I know those gaps are a matter of life and death. But there is also a “truth gap”. No one tells you that surviving is often just learning to live with permanent, systemic damage.

If you are in Year 1 and you’re terrified because you’re in a wheelchair, or because you’re tired of the endless pills, or because you’re fighting to keep your dignity in a system that suggests diapers as a solution: I see you.

I’ve been right there, with all those medical textbooks in my head and a body that refused to stand up straight.

You don’t have to be a super hero. You just have to survive today.

Dr. Yvette Colón

Through her writing, speaking, and community work, she focuses on dismantling medical racism and empowering patients, especially BIPOC cancer survivors, to advocate for their care. She is committed to making sure no one has to navigate the system alone, unheard, or unseen.

She serves on the PanCAN Health Equity Committee, where she brings a mix of perspectives as a survivor, former professor, and provider. She is also part of Advancing Health Equity Catalyst, a space rooted in honest conversation, shared learning, and meaningful action.

You can find Dr. Yvette Colón on Instagram at @PurpleRibbonHQ, where she shares reflections on survivorship, equity, and what it means to navigate a system that was never built equally for all of us. For networking you can find her on LinkedIn.

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join as a Member

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Donate

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

June is a month of many important observances: 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Month, Juneteenth, Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and PTSD Awareness Month. While each has its own history and significance, together they remind us of something important: people are never defined by just one part of who they are.

Many individuals live at the intersection of multiple identities and experiences. They may be disabled and 2SLGBTQIA+, Black and living with PTSD, or navigating mental health challenges while facing barriers related to gender, race, culture, or access. These identities don’t exist separately—they shape one another in ways that can affect health, well-being, opportunity, and belonging.

Too often, conversations about inclusion focus on a single aspect of a person’s experience. But real inclusion means recognizing the whole person. It means understanding that barriers can compound, and that support, representation, and community matter even more when people are navigating multiple forms of marginalization.

This month invites us to celebrate resilience, honor history, raise awareness, and deepen our understanding of one another. It is an opportunity to listen, learn, and create spaces where people feel seen in all the complexity of who they are.

Because belonging isn’t about fitting into one category. It’s about making room for every part of a person’s story.

Upcoming Events - Open to the Public

Art Therapy-based Community Events

with Emporia State Art Therapy Graduate Students

We’re thrilled to partner with Emporia State University to offer monthly therapeutic art activity sessions for our community, led by graduate students. Each session will include a simple, guided art activity and a chance to connect with others in a supportive space. No art experience is needed—just bring yourself and an open mind, ready to explore and create!

Upcoming Session Dates (all times in Central US)
⏰ June 15 | Monday, 12p-1p

⏰ July 13 | Monday, 12p-1p

Subscribe to our Events Calendar

Monthly Empower Network Check-In

Long Covid & Chronic Illness Career Support Group

Once a month, we open our community Zoom calls up to anyone who would like to join. These calls are designed to be low-pressure, flexible, and welcoming for everyone in our community, focusing on the intersection of our lived experience as disabled people and our collective effort in the workplace. Together, we are chronically sick, disabled and neurodivergent entrepreneurs rewriting the rules of work. Join us!

Upcoming Session Dates (all times in Central US)
⏰ June 13th @11AM Central US

Empower Network Members-Only Events

Membership is re-opening on June 22nd for new new members. Join the waitlist to get updates.

Membership is free after a $10 application fee, with a suggested monthly donation.

Membership includes access to members-only events, as well as a portal with disability-informed entrepreneurship resources, breathwork sessions, and more.

We define the chronic illness and disability community as anyone who has been pushed out of, excluded from, or limited by traditional work structures due to health, energy, or accessibility barriers. This includes chronically sick, disabled, and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, as well as anyone navigating invisible conditions, fluctuating capacity, or health challenges – whether or not they identify with those labels.

Tech & Business Support Sessions

Empower Network Members Only

Join us for a live, one-hour support session focused on practical tech and business help. Get hands-on assistance with websites, email, digital tools, workflows, and other day-to-day setup or troubleshooting needs. Submit your questions in advance, share your screen if helpful, and leave with clearer next steps and solutions you can actually use.

📅 Upcoming Session Dates: June 18th, July 2nd
⏰ Time: 11:30-12:30, Central US
🎟️ Join the waitlist here

Weekly Virtual Coffee Hours

Empower Network Members Only

Join us for our weekly virtual Coffee Hour, a supportive space to connect, share strategies, and spend time with others who understand. Each week centers on a shared theme, with room for conversation, reflection, and mutual support.

📅 Session Dates: Every Wednesday
⏰ Time: 12PM-1PM, Central US
🎟️ Join the waitlist here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join the Empower Collective. Coming soon - our membership is getting an overhaul. We can’t wait to announce the new launch!

Join the Waitlist

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to fund our work and keep our disability-informed programs accessible to everyone.

Donate

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

“Are you coming next week? I’ll be there, just wanted to make sure you were invited.”

When a friend reached out to invite me to a professional networking event, it was more than just a friendly phone call.

He knew showing up somewhere new and alone is hard.

He also knew that showing up to an event at a new location, in a wheelchair (or a limb difference, or a speech impediment, or a visible disability, or, or…), with people you don’t know can be an overwhelming kind of hard.

It can make you shut down, isolate, and choose to stay home time and time again until you hardly recognize yourself in the mirror.

So he picked up the phone and said:

I’m going. Come with me. I’ll be there with you to help navigate the physical space if needed, to help be a bridge to others who may not know how to interact with visible disability, and to have a good time together.

That one small act - the intentionality, the personal connection, the assumption that I might want to participate in something others take for granted - meant more than I can easily put into words.

It didn’t fix anything, and it absolutely didn’t solve a single accessibility challenge.

But I knew that if I chose to go, I wouldn’t have to navigate it all alone.

Being an ally to the disability community isn’t complex

but when you have a friend or family member navigating something you aren’t currently experiencing yourself - whether that is grief, loss, disability, illness, depression, transition - it can sometimes feel impossible to help.

These three suggestions are grounded in what research shows about social connection, health, and disability, and how you can be supportive without risking making things worse.

1. Offer help that’s already underway

“I’m going to get groceries, what else can I grab while I’m there? Ice cream? A $9 coffee? Tomatoes? Pickles?”

This works because it removes the two biggest barriers: decision fatigue & not wanting to be a burden or inconvenience.

Research shows that chronic illness is often accompanied by cognitive fatigue, executive dysfunction, and limited energy capacity. Even small decisions can feel overwhelming.

On top of that, studies on social support show that people are far more likely to accept help when it’s specific and low-effort to say yes.

When you anchor the offer to something you’re already doing and include examples of what you are willing to offer, you:

• Reduce the emotional cost of asking for help

• Give scope and scale so they don’t feel burdensome

• Normalize support as part of everyday life

This simple language shift changes the offer from feeling like “overly generous charity” to a small, simple, everyday favor.

2. Offer mutually beneficial support

“I made extra curry chicken tonight, can I drop some on your porch in a bit? It freezes well!”

Healthy food is often one of the greatest burdens of household and personal management, and is the first to fall away in the face of grief, depression, and fatigue. And without good food, it is extremely difficult to heal, to have energy, and to regain mental clarity.

Research shows that receiving tangible support (like meals) is directly linked to reduced stress and improved mental health outcomes, especially for people managing chronic conditions.

In addition, dignity is one of the most important things to consider when offering help to someone in a difficult situation.

The critical piece is how the help is offered:

• “I made extra” removes the pressure to choose a meal or be concerned about the cost of the gift - it’s already done.

• “Can I drop it off on your front step?” removes effort & social obligation.

• “It freezes well” respects that dietary needs are very individual and this meal may not fit their needs right now.

This offer maintains dignity (no need to clean the house or look presentable), encourages independence (eat it when it’s right for you), and limits feelings of indebtedness (“I was making it anyway”).

Helping another person doesn’t have to create a hierarchy. It can just be a small gesture from one friend to another that means the world.

3. Make connection and relationship flexible

“I miss you! Let’s hang out. Would you like to stay in or go out? Friday evening or Saturday morning?”

Loneliness is one of the most significant health risks in the disability community.

Research links social isolation to an increased risk of depression and anxiety, worsened physical health outcomes, and higher rates of hospitalization.

But often, isolation isn’t because of a lack of desire to connect. It’s because most ways people connect are no longer accessible with their disability.

The goal here is to reduce decision fatigue (provide 2-3 options with various accessibility differences) while allowing the person you’re asking to have some agency and control over the location and time of day.

For someone whose limited social time can be both refreshing and extremely physically costly, giving alternative options says:

• “Your unique needs are welcomed, not an inconvenience.”

• “You don’t have to push past your limits to be included”

• “I’m here for you, whatever that needs to look like this week.”

This flexibility is often the differentiator between friendships that sustain through significant challenge and difficult life circumstances, and relationships that slowly fall away.

Why this matters

Support isn’t just about kindness or good intentions - it’s about outcomes.

Research across disability and chronic illness populations shows that strong, accessible social support improves both mental and physical health, increases resilience, and helps people stay engaged in their communities and work.

Organizations like National Institute on Disability Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research emphasize that community integration and social connection are core components of wellbeing, not luxuries.

But support only works when it’s usable.

“Let me know how I can help” puts the burden back on the person who is already carrying more.

These small shifts do the opposite. They lower the barrier, share the load, and balance the relational hierarchy.

And sometimes - just like I experienced at that networking event - they’re the difference between showing up… or staying home alone, again.

If you’re thinking about someone you’ve been wanting to help support right now, send the text.

Just make it specific.

References

1. On decision fatigue and limited energy capacity: Gerber, M., et al. (2023). Editorial: Effort-based decision-making and cognitive fatigue. Frontiers in Psychology / PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10327592/

2. On social support effectiveness — specificity and low-effort offers https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-love-and-war/201406/what-kinds-of-support-are-most-supportive)

3. On tangible support (meals) and reduced stress / improved mental health outcomes: Whittle, H.J., Palar, K., et al. (2023). How food support improves mental health. PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0282857

4. Theofilou, P., et al. (2024). Perceived social support among patients and the contribution in the management of chronic disease. Series Science. https://seriesscience.com/management-of-chronic-disease/

5. On community integration and social connection as core components of wellbeing: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). https://acl.gov/about-acl/about-national-institute-disability-independent-living-and-rehabilitation-research

Stephanie Swanson, ICF-ACC

Stephanie is the Founder and CEO of The Empower Network. After her life & career was upended by chronic illness, she turned her experience into a mission: to create a community where entrepreneurs navigating health challenges can still find purpose, connection, and meaningful work.

She also works as a life & career coach, with special emphasis on the chronic illness & disability community.

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join the Empower Collective. Coming soon - our membership is getting an overhaul. The new membership portal launch is coming June 22nd! Join the waitlist to stay updated.

Join the Waitlist

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to fund our work and keep our disability-informed programs accessible to everyone.

Donate

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

Dr. Keeli Tritz Gailes is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who helps people with chronic conditions and disabilities navigate work, daily life, and complex healthcare systems.

She is the founder of the non-profit Health for the People and a health coach for the “Bendy, Dizzy, and Itchy 101” program, where she supports individuals in understanding their bodies and building sustainable strategies for independence.

Her work focuses on helping people manage chronic pain and complex conditions, advocate for workplace accommodations, and create environments that actually support their needs. She’s passionate about helping people move from surviving to thriving—especially in spaces that weren’t designed with them in mind.

You can find Dr. Keeli Tritz Gailes on Instagram or on the Ehlers-Danlos Society website.

Replay will be available for members of The Empower Network in the member portal if attending live isn’t in the cards.

What You’ll Learn

• Manage chronic pain and complex conditions

• Navigate work and healthcare systems, including accommodations

• Build supportive environments for greater independence

Join Us

May Webinar: Support Your Body, Sustain Your Work: Ergonomics, Energy Management, and Workplace Advocacy

Dr. Keeli Tritz Gailes, Doctor of Physical Therapy

The meeting will be recorded and available to members only through the new (coming soon!) member portal.

📅 Webinar Date: Thursday May 14, 2026
⏰ Time: 11AM-12PM Central US
🎟️ Register Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join the Empower Collective. Coming soon - our membership is getting an overhaul. We can’t wait to announce the new launch!

Join the Waitlist

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Donate

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s theme—More Good Days, Together—invites us to think about what it really takes to have a “good day.”

For many in the disability community, mental health is woven into daily life in ways that often go unseen. Managing appointments, navigating accessibility barriers, advocating for basic needs—these aren’t just logistical challenges. They take an emotional toll, too.

And yet, those efforts are often invisible.

A “good day” might look ordinary from the outside. It might be attending a meeting, running an errand, or simply getting out of bed. But behind that moment is resilience, planning, and persistence that so often goes overlooked or minimized.

That’s where community matters.

Because more good days don’t happen by accident. They happen when people feel understood. When access is prioritized. When support shows up in ways that are actually helpful.

And when we recognize that mental health isn’t separate from disability—it’s part of the whole person.

That’s the kind of world we’re working toward. One where more good days are possible, together.

Welcome to May’s upcoming events!

If you are interested in becoming a part of The Empower Network team, we would love to have you! We are currently looking for volunteer support in the admin, social media, fundraising/grants, forum moderation and community facilitator areas of our organization.

Glad you’re here, and hope to see you at an upcoming event soon!

- The Empower Network Team

Upcoming Events - Open to the Public

MAY WEBINAR: Dr. Keeli Tritz Gailes, Physical Therapy

Dr. Keeli Tritz Gailes is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who helps people with chronic conditions and disabilities navigate work, daily life, and complex healthcare systems. She is the founder of the non-profit Health for the People and a health coach for the “Bendy, Dizzy, and Itchy 101” program, where she supports individuals in understanding their bodies and building sustainable strategies for independence.

Her work focuses on helping people manage chronic pain and complex conditions, advocate for workplace accommodations, and create environments that actually support their needs. She’s passionate about helping people move from surviving to thriving—especially in spaces that weren’t designed with them in mind.

This webinar will be recorded and available through our YouTube Channel after the event.

📅 Webinar Date: Thursday, May 14
⏰ Time: 11AM-12PM Central US
🎟️ Register Here

JUNE WEBINAR: Occupational Therapy and Living with Long Covid

Abbigail Kubiak, OT will be discussing her lived experience with Long Covid and how occupational therapy has made a significant difference in her journey.

This webinar will be recorded and available through our YouTube Channel after the event.

📅 Webinar Date: Monday, June 22
⏰ Time: 11AM-12PM Central US
🎟️ Registration Coming Soon

Check out The Empower Network YouTube Channel

Miss a webinar? You can find available recordings on our YouTube channel — free to watch whenever you have capacity. Past topics include navigating health insurance and Medicaid, job interviews with disability accommodations, remote work options, and building systems that work for your real life.

Watch on YouTube

Webinar Series: What’s Next?

• Occupational Therapy: Living with Chronic Illness

• Disability Rights & The History of the ADA

• How to Sell Your Products at a Local Shop: Product Placement

• Managing Home Care and Work

• How much time can you REALLY work? Honest Capacity Assessments

• Financial Literacy: What you need to know to start a business (even when on SSDI)

If you have content ideas or questions you’d like us to cover, please send your ideas and feedback here.

Art Therapy-based Community Events

with Emporia State Art Therapy Graduate Students

We’re thrilled to partner with Emporia State University to offer monthly therapeutic art activity sessions for our community, led by graduate students. Each session will include a simple, guided art activity and a chance to connect with others in a supportive space. No art experience is needed—just bring yourself and an open mind, ready to explore and create!

Upcoming Session Dates (all times in Central US)
⏰ May 11 | Monday, 12p-1p
Summer Dates TBD

Facebook Group: Saturday Zoom Calls

Long Covid & Chronic Illness Career Support Group

Once a month, we open our community Zoom calls up to anyone who would like to join. These calls are designed to be low-pressure, flexible, and welcoming for everyone in our community. Join the Facebook group to get updates and invitations, or join at the link below.

Upcoming Session Dates (all times in Central US)
⏰ May 9th @11AM Central US

Empower Network Members-Only Events

Tech & Business Support Sessions

Empower Network Members Only

Join us for a live, one-hour support session focused on practical tech and business help. Get hands-on assistance with websites, email, digital tools, workflows, and other day-to-day setup or troubleshooting needs. Submit your questions in advance, share your screen if helpful, and leave with clearer next steps and solutions you can actually use.

📅 Upcoming Session Dates: May 7, May 21
⏰ Time: 11:30-12:30, Central US
🎟️ Join as a Member Here

Weekly Virtual Coffee Hours

Empower Network Members Only

Join us for our weekly virtual Coffee Hour, a supportive space to connect, share strategies, and spend time with others who understand. Each week centers on a shared theme, with room for conversation, reflection, and mutual support.

Membership is $10/month, with scholarships available, and helps sustain this community and the care we offer one another.

📅 Session Dates: Every Wednesday
⏰ Time: 12PM-1PM, Central US
🎟️ Join as a Member Here

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join the Empower Collective. Coming soon - our membership is getting an overhaul. We can’t wait to announce the new launch!

Join the Waitlist

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to fund our work and keep our disability-informed programs accessible to everyone.

Donate

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

If something is marketed as being inclusive or accessible, do you know what able-bodied people hear?

“This isn’t for you. This is for someone who’s disabled.”

They don’t identify with this language. Why?

Because the world has always been built for and around people who aren’t disabled. They don’t need terms like ‘inclusive’ or ‘accessible.’ When you’re able-bodied and see these words used, your mind can quickly sort that into a category of:

Not Important (for me)

Once that mental category is formed, accessible offerings are perceived as different.

I know this because I wasn’t always disabled. I couldn’t identify with the terms ‘inclusive’ and ‘accessible.’ In my eyes, the world ran exactly as it should because it was already meeting my needs.

The human mind is constantly categorizing information. It’s what we’ve adapted to do. When able-bodied people hear these words, they can quickly sort them into the category of ‘irrelevant.’ We’re only meant to take in the information that’s important to our own survival.

Because able-bodied people lack experience with needing inclusive accommodations, they don’t often see these changes as an improved experience for everyone; they may more likely think of them as simply an adjustment for an individual.

A product, service, or environment marked as accessible can be seen as a deviation from the norm instead of a better norm for everyone.

That difference can be enough for an able-bodied person to move on without a second thought. And that’s exactly what I used to do when I didn’t need any accommodations.

The missed opportunity when we frame these things as specialized access, we are missing that they are often simply good design for everyone: easier navigation, clearer communication, more flexibility, and more dignity for all.

That wheelchair access ramp and curb cuts? They are used by strollers, wagons, delivery services, carts, catering, construction crews, and more every day.

The closed captioning? Used in a loud restaurant, at home when your small children are sleeping, when you’re hard of hearing, when the accents in the movie are unfamiliar, when your mental fatigue makes it hard to focus after a long day.

Always providing an agenda ahead of a meeting? Just good business practice to save time for everyone and ensure efficiency.

Putting work expectations and tasks in writing after a discussion? Eliminates confusion for everyone, brings clarity and highlights when a decision wasn’t made.

Allowing work for home as frequently as needed? Stops the spread of illness if employees are feeling just a little unwell. Allows parents a longer workday when they have to take a child to a mid-day dentist appointment by minimizing drive time.

So the challenge lies in shifting perspectives. Instead of focusing on terms like inclusive and accessible, what if we focused on an emphasis of comfort, ease, and usability for everyone?

In order to reframe thinking, able-bodied people need to see how products or services can benefit their lives as well. If inclusion is going to be real, it can not live only in the language of accommodation.

Accessible cannot just mean “for them.”

It has to mean “for us,” recognizing that every body and mind will move through the world differently at different points in life.

We need to seamlessly integrate accessibility into our everyday lives until it becomes a societal expectation.

Until that shift happens, the labels meant to invite everyone to the table will keep being mistaken as “Not Important (for me),” despite their universal benefit for everyone.

References

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11653879/

2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/16094069251316214

3. https://dsq-sds.org/article/id/1435/

4. https://pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca/ediinpractice/chapter/key-concepts-in-accessibility/

5. https://www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/cbe.24-12-0295

6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5024466/

7. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936657424000128

8. https://inclusive-teaching.du.edu/inclusive-teaching/content/disability-pedagogy-accessibility

9. https://cjds.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cjds/article/view/734/990

10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12064617/

Melissa Taylor

Melissa Taylor is the founder of Sjögren’s Social Club on Instagram, where she builds connections and visibility for people navigating life with Sjögren’s and chronic illness. With a background in film and acting, she brings both creative vision and human storytelling to her role leading video storytelling at The Empower Network. Melissa is passionate about amplifying real voices and helping our community’s stories be seen, felt, and remembered.

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join as a member to connect with others who truly get it. Members have access to our weekly virtual coffee hours, community events, and peer support.

Join as a Member

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to keep our programs accessible and fund scholarships for those who need a little extra support.

Donate

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.

In a recent coffee hour, someone shared,

“I love inspiring others to not let their challenges hold them back, but I want to be able to choose when that is. I’d also like to be able to enter a room without someone being shocked I use a [insert any visible medical device here] in public.”

This is so common in the disability community: the desire to be seen as a whole person, not defined by their limitations or visible differences, alongside the desire to make a meaningful impact in the world.

And when you zoom out, you realize that desire is actually not different from anyone else. Every day, we decide through our clothing, our style, and our activities when to stand out and when to blend in.

The difference is that for many in our community, that choice isn’t within our control.

People often see the wheelchair, prosthetics, white cane, sign language, or braces first.

The tool quickly becomes the focus, instead of honoring the humanity of the complex, capable person using the tool to participate more fully in life.

That’s exactly what we’re working to change. We’re glad you’re along for the ride with us.

Welcome to April’s upcoming events!

We’ve had a big month - launching the new website, finalizing the touches on the new membership and events platform to make everything a little easier (coming soon!), and building impactful connections within the disability community.

If you are interested in becoming a part of The Empower Network team, we would love to have you! We are currently looking for volunteer support in the admin, social media, fundraising/grants, forum moderation and community facilitator areas of our organization.

Glad you’re here, and hope to see you at an upcoming event soon!

- The Empower Network Team

Upcoming Events - Open to the Public

FREE 90-min Workshop: The Low-Energy Guide to Claude Cowork

Rheanna Nutter, The Chronic CEO

Running a business or managing professional work while living with chronic illness or fluctuating energy can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. What if you had a collaborator that could help you think through ideas, organize projects, and reduce the mental load of daily work?

Rheanna Nutter of The Chronic CEO is walking us through Claude Cowork - the desktop feature that lets you hand off the operational activities, step away, and come back to finished tasks. The drafting, the outlines, the automations, the research are all handled for you. Your capacity goes to the revenue generating activities that move your business forward.

In this session, you’ll learn how to set up Cowork so it actually knows your business, what kinds of tasks it handles well, and how to run your first workflow before the week is out.

The workshop will be recorded, but will only available to members through the new member portal a few weeks after the event.

📅 Webinar Date: Thursday, April 16th
⏰ Time: 12PM-1:30PM Central US
🎟️ Register Here

MAY WEBINAR: Dr. Keeli Tritz Gailes, Physical Therapy

Dr. Keeli Tritz Gailes is a Doctor of Physical Therapy who helps people with chronic conditions and disabilities navigate work, daily life, and complex healthcare systems. She is the founder of the non-profit Health for the People and a health coach for the “Bendy, Dizzy, and Itchy 101” program, where she supports individuals in understanding their bodies and building sustainable strategies for independence.

Her work focuses on helping people manage chronic pain and complex conditions, advocate for workplace accommodations, and create environments that actually support their needs. She’s passionate about helping people move from surviving to thriving—especially in spaces that weren’t designed with them in mind.

This webinar will be recorded and available through our YouTube Channel after the event.

📅 Webinar Date: Thursday, May 14
⏰ Time: 11AM-12PM Central US
🎟️ Register Here

Check out The Empower Network YouTube Channel

Miss a webinar? You can find available recordings on our YouTube channel — free to watch whenever you have capacity. Past topics include navigating health insurance and Medicaid, job interviews with disability accommodations, remote work options, and building systems that work for your real life.

Watch on YouTube

Webinar Series: What’s Next?

• Asking for Accommodations: Ergonomic options at home and in the workplace

• Occupational Therapy: Living with Chronic Illness

• Disability Rights & The History of the ADA

• How to Sell Your Products at a Local Shop: Product Placement

• Managing Home Care and Work

• How much time can you REALLY work? Honest Capacity Assessments

• Financial Literacy: What you need to know to start a business (even when on SSDI)

If you have content ideas or questions you’d like us to cover, please send your ideas and feedback here.

Art Therapy-based Community Events

with Emporia State Art Therapy Graduate Students

We’re thrilled to partner with Emporia State University to offer monthly therapeutic art activity sessions for our community, led by graduate students. Each session will include a simple, guided art activity and a chance to connect with others in a supportive space. No art experience is needed—just bring yourself and an open mind, ready to explore and create!

Upcoming Session Dates (all times in Central US)
⏰ April 13 | Monday, 12p-1p
⏰ May 11 | Monday, 12p-1p
Summer Dates TBD

Facebook Group: Saturday Zoom Calls

Long Covid & Chronic Illness Career Support Group

Once a month, we open our community Zoom calls up to anyone who would like to join. These calls are designed to be low-pressure, flexible, and welcoming for everyone in our community. Join the Facebook group to get updates and invitations, or join at the link below.

Upcoming Session Dates (all times in Central US)
⏰ April 11th @11AM Central US
⏰ May 9th @11AM Central US

Empower Network Members-Only Events

Tech & Business Support Sessions

Empower Network Members Only

Join us for a live, one-hour support session focused on practical tech and business help. Get hands-on assistance with websites, email, digital tools, workflows, and other day-to-day setup or troubleshooting needs. Submit your questions in advance, share your screen if helpful, and leave with clearer next steps and solutions you can actually use.

📅 Upcoming Session Dates: April 9, April 23
⏰ Time: 12PM-1PM, Central US
🎟️ Join as a Member Here

Weekly Virtual Coffee Hours

Empower Network Members Only

Join us for our weekly virtual Coffee Hour, a supportive space to connect, share strategies, and spend time with others who understand. Each week centers on a shared theme, with room for conversation, reflection, and mutual support.

Membership is $10/month, with scholarships available, and helps sustain this community and the care we offer one another.

📅 Session Dates: Every Wednesday
⏰ Time: 12PM-1PM, Central US
🎟️ Join as a Member Here

Free Community Events & Opportunities

Low Lift Launches Masterclass

A free masterclass on AI + launch planning for low-capacity entrepreneurs

Rheanna Nutter, The Chronic CEO

Our co-founder Rheanna Nutter is hosting a free 90-minute live masterclass — Low-Lift Launches: An AI Masterclass for Low-Energy Entrepreneurs — and it's built specifically for people who've tried the standard launch playbooks and watched them fall apart mid-flare.

The masterclass walks through how to plan a launch from your actual capacity (not your best-case capacity), how AI handles the generative heavy lifting so you're not staring at a blank page on a bad brain day, and how to stop starting from zero every single time.

📅 April 17th, 2026
⏰ 2:00PM - 3:30PM Central US

Register Here

Have a free event or resource to share with the community? Send it to support@empower-network.org to be considered for the next newsletter!

The Empower Network is growing! There’s a place for you here.

Whether you’re looking for support, connection, or a way to give back, your involvement helps build a more accessible, compassionate world of work.

Join the Empower Collective. Coming soon - our membership is getting an overhaul. We can’t wait to announce the new launch!

Volunteer your skills, creativity, or time. Every bit of energy helps this community grow!

Volunteer

Donate to fund our work and keep our disability-informed programs accessible to everyone.

Donate

Thank you for helping us build a world where everyone has a chance to contribute to meaningful work.