OUT ON THE HILL is the official blog of the Victory Congressional Interns. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. Learn more about the internship at victoryinstitute.org/vci.
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Bright pink cane, fuchsia suit, and red glasses – this was my outfit for my first day on the Hill. My friends always say it’s hard to miss me in a crowd. Growing up, I have become used to my fair share of stares, even if I can’t see them, because I move through the world a bit differently than others.
This feeling only felt heightened when I arrived in D.C. Heading to work, I heard whispers as I passed groups of people to board the metro. As a visibly disabled person, my white cane (even though it’s mostly pink!) is often the first thing that others notice when they see or meet me. When I arrived at my first day of work, I couldn’t help but take in the gravity of sweeping my cane across the marble halls of the Cannon House Office Building, a place that many Americans have never stepped foot in, especially disabled Americans. I was initially very apprehensive about how my office, given that like most offices had not had a blind intern, would handle my accommodations. However, my fears were quelled as soon as I arrived at the office.
The Office of Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) has done a fantastic job supporting me, ensuring I have what I need to succeed, and is committed to putting accessibility at the forefront of office operations. Even though they had not had an intern like me, they asked me extensive questions to learn more and should serve as a model for others on the Hill and in any workplace. Though my time in the office has been fantastic, I have still faced unsolicited comments from some in the Capitol who say they’ve never seen a blind person working before or that I must be an inspiration. They are right about one thing – there are simply not enough disabled people working in the halls of Congress. The reality is that the Hill remains an inaccessible place. Only a handful of blind people work in the House and Senate, and most people have not met a blind person, let alone have worked with them.
There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that the Hill is accessible and inclusive to disabled people. However, I have found comfort in and hope for a better future, whether that’s my office, the fellow blind folks I have met this summer who work in government, or my fellow non-disabled VCI interns who have supported me.
The saying “representation matters” can feel like an empty platitude, but it really is true. I am not an inspiration for simply existing as a disabled person, but I know that my presence on the Hill will inevitably allow other disabled people to know that they belong and can show up as their full selves just as much as anyone else. As one of my final projects at the office, I am creating a resource guide for future blind interns who end up on the Hill and find themselves wondering where to turn to – and who came before them – as I did. I hope this guide can serve as a reminder to other interns that there is always space for them. I belong on the Hill, and, if you’re reading this, so do you.
