Disability Advocacy – Know Your Rights!
CUNY LEADS (Linking Employment, Academics, and Disability Services) students learned about disability self-advocacy firsthand at CareerReady! this spring. Guest Instructor Melissa Lomax has dedicated her career to empowering youth with disabilities so they may reach their desired levels of success and not the barriers of low expectations attempting to block their path. Melissa’s riveting program began with an interactive ADA poll. Melissa shared her own compelling story: she was an A student until she took a course with an inaccessible textbook. Her trailblazing advocacy as a college senior improved accessibility services for students at her campus. Students asked about this real-life situation, “When someone discloses to HR, does that mean this info goes to my supervisor? Or does HR keep it confidential unless an employee discloses to the supervisor?” The answer is HR can only share Reasonable Accommodations information with a supervisor.
Students enthusiastically thanked Melissa for her motivational session: “I'm happy you gave this presentation today. It was inspiring and informational!” “Thank you so much for this fantastic meeting. I needed to know the importance of advocating on behalf of my disability.” Valuable resources were exchanged, such as the Job Accommodation Network, New York City’s 55-a program, and contacting EEOC to fight employment discrimination. Thank you Melissa for making an IMPACT!
For over ten years, Melissa Lomax has advocated for persons with disabilities nationally and internationally in Damascus, Syria where she helped to create the comic book the Silver Scorpion—the first ever to feature a disabled superhero in the Middle East. Melissa presently manages a supported employment program for adults and a mentoring program for at-risk youth with all types of disabilities. She chairs her organization’s DEI-AB committee and serves as the co-chair of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey membership committee. As a consultant, she ensures that businesses and professionals receive guidance on developing products using the principles of universal design and accessibility. Through this work, Melissa is doing her part to increase representation and create more seats at the table for people with disabilities within the fashion, entertainment, and beauty industries.
Students enthusiastically thanked Melissa for her motivational session: “I'm happy you gave this presentation today. It was inspiring and informational!” “Thank you so much for this fantastic meeting. I needed to know the importance of advocating on behalf of my disability.” Valuable resources were exchanged, such as the Job Accommodation Network, New York City’s 55-a program, and contacting EEOC to fight employment discrimination. Thank you Melissa for making an IMPACT!
For over ten years, Melissa Lomax has advocated for persons with disabilities nationally and internationally in Damascus, Syria where she helped to create the comic book the Silver Scorpion—the first ever to feature a disabled superhero in the Middle East. Melissa presently manages a supported employment program for adults and a mentoring program for at-risk youth with all types of disabilities. She chairs her organization’s DEI-AB committee and serves as the co-chair of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey membership committee. As a consultant, she ensures that businesses and professionals receive guidance on developing products using the principles of universal design and accessibility. Through this work, Melissa is doing her part to increase representation and create more seats at the table for people with disabilities within the fashion, entertainment, and beauty industries.
