I was unfairly fired because of my disabilities.

Hi everyone, my name is Aaron and I'm reaching out to you today because I'm facing a challenging situation. As someone living with multiple disabilities, including PTSD, ADHD, severe anxiety and depression, scoliosis, and other back problems, finding and keeping work has always been a struggle.

For two years, I persevered in my search for employment, all while facing the added pressure of a landlord demanding I paint my mobile home – a physical task my body simply couldn't handle. The stress was immense, but I never gave up and moved into an apartment after essentially being forced out of my own home.

Finally, a beacon of hope: I landed a job as a drafter. I poured my heart and soul into it, even stopping therapy I desperately needed to manage my mental health because my office and theirs had the same hours. My dedication paid off - I thrived, even earning a raise!

Then, just when things were looking up, disaster struck. A seemingly trivial incident – waiting a couple minutes for a restroom – triggered a cascade of events that led to my job termination. An engineer, with a history of similar behavior, berated me in front of colleagues, and HR, instead of addressing the situation fairly, gaslighted me and dismissed my concerns, even trying to tell me that I was unprofessional and in the wrong for waiting to use the restroom.

My PTSD, triggered by the aggressive confrontation and the balloon-popping in the office (an unfortunate reminder of past trauma), sent me spiraling. Feeling trapped and unheard, I pleaded to return to work, but my pleas fell on deaf ears.

Now, not only am I unemployed and facing financial hardship, but I'm also supporting my girlfriend in her recovery from addiction. Witnessing her fight fuels my own, but I can't help her recovery if we are both homeless. A detail that my employers were also aware of, and did not care about when choosing to fire me.

I'm not asking for a handout, but for a hand up. Any contribution, big or small, will go towards:

Finding new, disability-friendly employment: Covering job search expenses, training, and relocation if necessary.

Securing stable housing: Paying rent and essential bills until I get back on my feet.

Hope. Any donations that you can afford, even it is 25 cents, will give me real hope for a better future. I am receiving unemployment, but it is not even enough to cover my rent for the next month.

I understand not everyone can donate, but sharing my story would mean the world. Please help me spread the word so I can overcome these challenges and continue building a fulfilling life.

Thank you for your time and compassion.

Sincerely,

Aaron Shissler