NEW MEXICO—National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a way to celebrate America’s disability workforce and bring national awareness about how important it is that all Americans who want to work can do so.

I would like to take a moment and share my personal story and tell you why this awareness month is especially significant to me.

I was born deaf and American Sign Language is my first language. I grew up in White Rock, New Mexico. My backyard was one big playground with access to public lands in northern New Mexico, including Jemez Ranger District, Bandelier National Monument, Valles Caldera National Preserve and many more.

Back then, it never crossed my mind that I could work for the Forest Service or another land management agency. During high school, I began to consider the possibility of enlisting with the United States Air Force as a pilot because I wanted to serve my country. Unfortunately, I couldn’t enlist in the military due to my disability.

In college, I thought about majoring in political science and going to law school. A seasonal job with the National Park Service at Fort Union National Monument changed all my plans. Working for the National Park Service gave me the opportunity to work all day outdoors. One morning, watching the sunrise and thinking about my childhood, that’s the moment I realized I wanted a career working outdoors for a land management agency. I realized then and there that there’s more than one way to serve your country.

I joined the Forest Service at the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands managing the active archeological site and interpretive visitor center. Since then, I’ve worked for several state and federal government agencies. What has stood out to me, working for the Forest Service, is the way we value every employee’s contribution to its mission. The agency is working hard to improve resources for employees with disabilities. It has empowered and given me the opportunity to be a vocal advocate and leader in support of people with disabilities, to help us move forward from awareness to action.

Please join me in honoring what this month stands for—diversity and inclusion. The diversity of people, including people with disabilities and the different perspectives we bring, contributes to making this a better and stronger agency. This year’s theme of “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion” is a theme of a hopeful future for all of us as Americans and Forest Service employees as we recover from the pandemic. As Malcom Forbes said, “Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.”