For as long as she can remember, Sara Brown always knew something with her was different and from the very beginning, she faced challenges. Like many teenagers, high school was a difficult time; Sara struggled to fit in as classmates and peers made fun of her being different. Because she was diagnosed with having an Intellectual Disability, Sara needed tailored support for her barriers to learn in a typical classroom. She took special school services and worked closely with counselors to stay on track with schoolwork. When Sara was finally old enough to drive, her academic difficulties and adaptive behavior prevented her from even getting a learner's permit - something she's still working to obtain.  

Despite facing significant challenges in high school, Sara found time for work. She volunteered with both T.J. Maxx and Manor Grove, a long-term nursing care residence, and found a job during high school working at Cinnabon in West County Mall in St. Louis - a job she held for over a year. She remembers her first day on the job: trouble working the cashier, nervousness around customers, and a manager that would step in and urge Sara to move faster.

"I can understand now why it was so difficult for me to work, but back then, I didn't," recalls Sara. "I couldn't move faster because of my disability, and people would assume if I actually tried to be better I would. I felt so stuck."

Read more about Sara's story here.