Riss wasn't so sure about the outdoors
until a friend convinced them to give it a try
and it changed their life.
Find your purpose. Try new things.
You might surprise yourself and end up on a new path
and one that leads to your dream job.
Hi my name is Riss.
My pronouns are they and them.
I'm a deaf blind person.
Right now I work for Wilderness Inquiry.
I'm a program coordinator.
My responsibilities include contacting different organizations and schools and people
and encouraging them to have programming
partnering with us.
We might do day programs, overnight programs, extended stay programs
and these include traveling and camping experiences
and outdoor experiences for people.
We want everyone to experience the outdoors.
Having a job is so important
because every day when I wake up I feel excited.
I'm ready to go to work.
I love working with people.
And I love working in the office and out in the community
and making those connections.
Before age 15
I did not enjoy being outside.
There were bugs
it was dirty
it was not a comfortable experience.
And then at age 15 a friend had worked really hard
to convince me to join the Conservation Corps of Minnesota
and it's abbreviated CCM.
For a long time I didn't want to go with my friend
and my friend was very persistent.
So finally I joined and we were there for a month
and it was amazing.
I got to use tools
we were in the forest cutting down trees
we were doing a lot of construction projects
and I fell in love with it.
And I felt confident.
I could navigate the woods and I could do things
and I didn't need people helping me
or nobody was looking down on me because I was different
It was such a freeing experience for me.
And I decided I wanted more experiences like that.
So I joined different organizations went on different camping trips
volunteered
did internships
after that first experience with the Conservation Corps
and I felt like that was what I wanted to do.
And then I decided to go to UMD
and completed my bachelor's degree in outdoor education.
And I felt like it really helped me find my purpose.
And then I found a Wilderness Inquiry.
In high school I received several accommodations.
I had a deaf blind interpreter and they used pro tactile interpreting.
And that means that the interpreter will give environmental information
through touch on the back.
And I also had everything printed on yellow paper
instead of white paper because white paper
there's a glare from it and it gives me a headache.
So yellow is a little bit of a softer color
and helps me be able to read for longer periods of time.
I did get a note taker so that I was able to watch the interpreter
and then I would get the notes after the class.
I was unable to take notes and watch the interpreter at the same time.
My family was a huge support for me when I was in high school.
I was so fortunate to have a family that was with me through the struggles.
I could talk to my parents and they would be involved and come with me.
And my parents were like the protective mama bears and papa bears
and any information and discussions that needed to be happening
and education that needed to be given
to the school or the teachers they were with me.
A lot of teachers said, "Oh, it's fine they don't they don't need that."
Or, "It doesn't matter."
But when my parents were able to join me in advocating
it really was helpful.
I just moved into my own apartment last week.
I've got plants everywhere.
It's been very interesting.
I don't have any roommates anymore.
I'm completely on my own
so I can invite people over.
Is right next to a co-op.
There's a lot of transportation options available
so it just felt like it was going to be the right place for me.
Advocacy is important.
There is a lot of positive and negative experiences and successes and challenges.
It's important to advocate for yourself
so that people can learn about what you need.
A lot of people don't know
and they might think, "well, it's not really that important"
or they might not listen the first time you bring it up
and you have to bring it up again.
And there might need to be changes made to the initial accommodation
and it's kind of a work in progress.
And it will become easier
as the accommodations are first introduced to the company or people
and as they start working with you those accommodations will become
more and more seamless
and more and more normal for everyone.
And it's important to start with those small experiences
take baby steps and grow that confidence
and realize you can you can.
You can try something new.
Small at first and take new opportunities.
And if you run into barriers or no's or or people saying you can't be here
you might need to educate them because they might not know as well.
And you can show them a different way
and you can keep looking and find something that does work for you.
Try to be involved with the deaf blind community as well.
There's a lot of resources that you can look into.
There's a lot of information sharing that's been very helpful in my journey
and just get ready and take on the challenge because you can.
A chance invitation from a friend
to try a month volunteering outdoors with the Conservation Corps
while in high school
set the stage for Riss’ professional career.
Riss learned the importance of starting small to build confidence
and how to show people that you deserve to be there too.
It shaped their college coursework and experience
learning about both outdoor education and self-advocacy.
With the strong support of their parents and getting the accommodations
they needed along the way
Riss was able to land a job they love at Wilderness Inquiry
where they now share a love of nature and the outdoors
with other people with disabilities.
Their message to the people they meet every day
decide the experiences you want more of
and ask for what you need.
It will become more normal the more you do it.
Thanks Riss.