For someone who helped launch a program that would help hundreds of people with disabilities in Georgia, who would have thought that Jordan Hall would be turned down by 70 employers.
Jordan grew up never thinking that her disability was a limitation to her. Her “Rockstar” mom always instilled self-confidence in her from a young age. She attended Georgia State University and says that on-campus everyone was very diverse and she felt as if her disability was celebrated instead of criticized. 
While in college, Jordan had multiple successful internships within state government. She had a unique but welcomed experience when interviewing for an internship with the Georgia State General Assembly. Like most people with a disability, Jordan did not want anyone to pity her or define her by it. Instead of three separate days of interviews with two panelists each, they accommodated her disability by having only one interview on one day with six panelists. Jordan greatly appreciated the accommodation.
This internship led to even greater responsibilities the following summer as an intern for the President Pro Temp. During this second internship, Jordan had the opportunity to help pass the ABLE Act. The ABLE Act allows states to create tax-advantaged savings programs for eligible people with disabilities. This helps people with different disabilities take care of expenses such as education, housing, transportation, etc. Jordan was able to testify at the hearing which was a key part in passing the bill. Jordan played her part and helped pave a better future for people with disabilities.
Yet after all her success during college, even though graduating Cum Laude, Jordan had a lot of trouble finding a job. She went from interview to interview and was turned down many times because of her disability. In an interview with a law firm, which represented people with disabilities, she was told her disability would be a hindrance to her work. There was even a time when Jordan arrived early to an interview and when the potential employers saw her, they canceled her interview and said, “maybe we’ll call you Monday if we haven’t already hired someone.” She began to feel as if she had nothing to offer to society.
After many job rejections, Jordan’s mental health began to deteriorate. She started going to counseling and finally regained confidence in her abilities after so much rejection. Jordan always says that her disability is “part of me but not all that I am. I have more to offer.” She can do most of the tasks that everyone else can, but she does them differently.
After a lot of perseverance, Jordan eventually found her home at the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia where she works now as a Mobility Coordinator. She remembers the Executive Director, Shelly Simmons, being extremely welcoming as she is also a person with a disability. This sparked an instant camaraderie between the two. Jordan did not let the world tell her what she was worth and overcome all those obstacles to be who she wanted to be.