Rebecca's Story

Independent Living Specialist

I am both a new and old employee here at ACCESS. My first experience with ACCESS began in 2002 when the office was located on Atwood Ave. During the next six years, I served as an Independent Living Specialist, the Assistive Technology Coordinator, and the Office Manager. I left in 2006 and have since held a few jobs, most recently raising my daughter and working for Social Security. My work at Social Security taught me a lot about the fine details of SSI and SSDI, but I also learned that working for the government was not where I belong. I have low vision and it was a constant fight to get any accommodation, any empathy, and to simply fit in. Most importantly, I need to be part of a larger community such as ACCESS, although I also enjoy working with people on an individual basis. Since my return to ACCESS, I’ve become the go-to for Social Security questions and been crushed by my out-of-date knowledge related to assistive technology. Last time I worked here I had a flip-phone! Don’t worry, I am quickly learning my way around the array of assistive technology we have.

​In my personal life, I love spending time with my family. This revolves around my 7-year-old who ensures that every day is unique. My husband and I love showing her the world. Now I can introduce her to a world that includes a range of people, abilities, challenges, and accomplishments. I am very happy to be back!