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(Guitar instrumental)
Hi, my name is Dee Enrico-Janik. Those of you who know me who might be watching this
know that I work for the state protection and advocacy agency and I've been there for
almost 20 years. I live here in Indianapolis and I have a personal ADA story to tell. Nine
years ago I was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder and it was very hard for me to ask
for accommodations in order to do my job. But I want to tell everybody who's watching
this that regardless of your disability if you need accommodations to do your job, please
look at the job accommodations network with our Great Lakes ADA Resource Center and do
not be bashful about asking your employer for accommodations. It took several meetings
and I think, actually, that I was the first person in my organization to ever come in
employed and ask for an accommodation. But I'm glad that I did, the results obviously
were positive. I've been working now as I said for almost 20 years and that's my story.
Support services with which to do your job
depending on what that job is, the ability to be able to be provided with certain types
of music or background white noise in order to block out sounds around you. Just the ability
to work a schedule that meets your needs, still putting in the required number of hours
but perhaps not starting at the same time that everybody else starts. Maybe coming in
half hour to an hour later and then staying a half hour to an hour longer.
I love the work that I do. I have a staff of five people and we cover about half of the state of Indiana
with our three major programs for persons with mental health challenges, with developmental
disability issues as well as access issues. I am very good at what I do and I would have
to say that being diagnosed with the depression turned me into a self-advocate. It was very
hard, it wasn't easy but I found my voice.