Advocacy Spotlight: Laura Akers
Laura Akers is a self-advocate from Everett who manages multiple jobs while advocating for herself and others.
“I keep busy. I have three jobs. I’ve been working at Lumen Field since 2015, Angel of the Winds Arena since 2018, and just started at Climate Pledge Arena in October 2021. I work at guest services, as a ticket-taker, or as an usher, depending on the day. I’m able to make my own schedule, so I’m able choose when and where I work. It takes a lot of planning, though. I have to ride the light rail and multiple buses to get to work, so I have to make sure I have plenty of time to get there.”
Laura was able to find these employment opportunities on her own and used her job coach to help her apply to each one.
“I found the Lumen Field job online and my job coach helped me with the application. I heard about the Angel of the Winds job through word of mouth, and Climate Pledge was also online. My job coach helped me with all the applications, but I arrange everything myself now.”
Laura’s work experience has helped with her own self-advocacy, helping her advocate for herself, and in doing so, helping her advocate for others.
“I advocate for myself and others with accessibility. I need a chair for certain things and making sure I have that is advocacy. Now, I advocate for accessibility for others. I advocate to make sure medical equipment is accessible and make sure everyone can participate.”
Beyond her personal advocacy, Laura is also actively involved in local groups for self-advocates, including People First of Snohomish County and The Arc’s Women’s Group.
“I have a lot of ideas that I’m always suggesting. I have lot of staycation ideas.”
In March of 2022, Laura began serving on the Citizens Accessibility Advisory Committee for Sound Transit.
“It was really important to me to get on that board. They really wanted somebody with disabilities to speak about accessibility for the light rail expansion. They don’t think about location a lot, and I can tell them a location won’t work because of traffic. Like, they wanted a stop on Casino Road [in Everett], and I told them that is a very dangerous place to cross and, hopefully, they’ll be moving it.”
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Originally published in The Arc of Snohomish County: Leadership Collective Newsletter, Issue 2 – 2022. Written by Jake Murray, Parent/Family Coalition Coordinator.