Information Access Stories: Shay Ruff's Story

Shay Ruff's story:

What information access means to me is power. Because the more information you know, you'll know how to navigate, especially if you're starting out.

I've been very fortunate, that I have worked in the disability field as an advocate and in a variety of different roles. I went to Radford University, and after I graduated, the first thing I did was contact DARS.

Sometimes when you're navigating the system, you get a counselor that is all well intentioned. But just because I'm in this wheelchair, they don't really listen to you. So, if I'm telling you customer service is not going to work for me when I have a degree in social work, and you're saying, “But you know, right now…” and all this other stuff. It's just not gonna work.

I think I went through like 3 counselors before I found the one that really matched with me. And he was very knowledgeable about employment opportunities and how it would affect my benefits. He helped me navigate the system at the time.

I started to get a sense of how things worked when I did an internship at an independent living center. I was in charge of transition coordination. It's a full circle moment, I like to call it. Because now I've been the client before. I work for the Arc of Virginia. Now I'm assisting people. In this case, young people with disabilities and their families. I usually would tell parents, “Give yourself, grace. This is gonna take a while. But we're gonna get through it together.”

Navigating the system is a journey. Having access to current information relevant to as many people in the community, no matter where they fall, is truly, truly important. Because as you know, and as I know, the quicker you can get pertinent information to what you're looking for, the better.

What is YOUR story?

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