Different Circumstances, Same Potential: Pain Points of Disability and Employment

In this episode, Maggie Shea sits down with Chris Anselmo, author of the Hello, Adversity newsletter and rare disease advocate, for a personal conversation about disability, career changes, self-advocacy, workplace accommodations, and learning how to move forward when life looks nothing like you expected. Together, Maggie and Chris discuss: Chris's journey from Northeastern to becoming a rare disease advocate The Pain Points of navigating a career while living with a progressive disability Turning personal adversity into meaningful work Job searching before, during, and after disclosing a disability Why candidates sometimes hesitate to discuss accommodations The importance of advocating for what you need at work How one simple workplace accommodation changed Chris's perspective The additional considerations people with disabilities can face during a job search Common misconceptions about hiring people with disabilities What employers can do to make their workplaces more accessible and welcoming Why inclusion needs to show up in a company's actions, not just its stated values One of the most powerful parts of Chris's story is how his approach to asking for help changed over time. Early in his career, as his physical abilities began changing, Chris needed a lighter laptop. It sounds like a small request, but at the time, asking for it meant explaining something about himself that he had not been comfortable discussing openly. Eventually, he asked. His employer accommodated the request and then went a step further by asking what else they could do to help him succeed. That experience stuck with Chris. It helped him realize that workplace accommodations are not about giving someone an unfair advantage, they are about removing a barrier so that person can focus on doing the job they were hired to do. Chris and Maggie also look at the hiring process from both sides. For job seekers with disabilities, a requirement around travel, relocation, office attendance, or scheduling can create another decision before they even submit an application. Is the requirement actually necessary? Is there flexibility? Will the company be willing to have a conversation? Sometimes a simple yes-or-no application question does not leave room for any of that context. For employers, Chris encourages taking a closer look at job postings, applications, workplace policies, and company culture. Small changes in language can show candidates that a company is willing to have a conversation instead of immediately screening someone out. The episode also tackles some of the misconceptions surrounding disability and employment. People with disabilities work across industries, build businesses, earn advanced degrees, lead teams, and bring valuable perspectives and skills into organizations. Sometimes the way the work gets done looks a little different. That does not change someone's ability to contribute. Chris's message to job seekers is equally important: do not automatically remove yourself from an opportunity because you may need an accommodation. Advocating for yourself can be uncomfortable, especially when you do not know how an employer will respond. But communicating what you need can open the door to solutions and help you determine whether an organization is truly the right place for you. For employers, recruiters, HR professionals, leaders, and job seekers, this episode is a thoughtful conversation about what accessibility can look like when we replace assumptions with communication. 💼 Connect with Chris Anselmo Newsletter: Hello, Adversity Website: helloadversity.substack.com LinkedIn: Chris Anselmo Instagram: @hello_adversity Follow Chris for learn and read more about adversity, resilience, disability, mental health, uncertainty, and navigating major changes in life. 🤝 Connect with StaffBuffalo & Pain Points Podcast Website: staffbuffalo.com More Episodes: staffbuffalo.com/painpoints