Maria Barajas Flores
When Maria Barajas Flores first connected with Access Living, she was looking for more than information. She was searching for community. After facing workplace discrimination and being denied proper accommodations for her disability, Maria sustained an additional injury, leaving her to advocate for herself without knowing where to start. As the head of her household, resigning from her job simply wasn’t an option. However, neither was staying silent, or at a job where she didn’t feel supported.
All that changed in July of 2024, when Maria’s search for resources, led her to the Chicago Disability Parade. There, she stopped by Access Living’s table and found the answers she was looking for. Along with a community of people who not only saw her, but understood her.
Today, Access Living has become a safe haven for Maria. Since getting involved with the organization, she has joined groups, been empowered to show up fully as herself, and gained the confidence to no longer feel like she has to hide or minimize her disability. She has even found a new job with an organization that provides her with necessary accommodations, supports her medical needs, and is a shining example of what true inclusion looks like.
Maria’s journey is a true reflection of what Access Living stands for: a world free of exclusion and obstacles. Here, we learn about how Access Living has improved working conditions for Maria Barajas Flores, reasons why people with disabilities are underpaid, and what can we do to ensure everyone has the same access to a fair quality of life.
Tell me a little bit about yourself and your connection to Access Living?
Access Living is a safe place to be myself. It's a place where I don't have to hide or minimize my disability. They understand how challenging it is to constantly adapt to a world that often doesn't adapt to us, to people with disabilities. And it's a community that not only supports, but celebrates people with disabilities, as capable, strong, and deserving of equal opportunities.
At Access Living, I attend their Cambiando Vidas (CV) Group, which supports Latinx people with disabilities. In addition to my participation in CV, I’m involved with People Over Profits (POP). POP is focused on policies that advocate for change for people living with disabilities.
I became introduced to Access Living following an experience with a previous employer. I did not receive proper accommodations for my disability and sustained additional injury as a result of it, and was struggling. As the head of my household, I could not leave work and was trying to advocate for myself without knowing exactly how. So, I started looking for help. And at the disability parade in July of last year, I connected with Access Living when I stopped by their table. From there, I learned more about my rights and gained the support I needed.
How has being a part of Access Living improved working conditions for you?
It's been great. Especially since I know more about my rights and how to advocate for them. In fact, I can say with pride, that I now work for Family Rescue, which is a nonprofit organization that assists victims of domestic violence. There, I finally see what true inclusion looks like. They provide the accommodations I need, support my physical therapy schedule, and respect my medical appointments. It’s a clear example that when workplaces listen and make space for accessibility, employees with disabilities can thrive and reach their full potential. This is what Access Living advocates for. It has also helped with my confidence.
For people who don't know about Access Living, can you share more about the work they do?
Access Living is a nonprofit organization that promotes disability rights and inclusion. It’s a place that empowers people with disabilities to live independently and advocate for systemic change. They offer services like housing assistance, peer support, advocacy training, and programs that focus on employment, education, and accessibility.
Through their resources, they are helping to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities by helping them gain independence and confidence. Access Living is creating real change. Not just by offering services, but by advocating for laws and systems that respect our rights and dignity. They help turn isolation into empowerment.
For me, Access Living has been a safe place to be myself—a space where I don’t have to hide or minimize my disability. They understand how challenging it is to constantly adapt to a world that often doesn’t adapt to us. It’s a community that not only supports but celebrates people with disabilities as capable, strong, and deserving of equal opportunities.
What are some reasons why people with disabilities are underpaid and what are some short and long-term effects of it?
Many people with disabilities are underpaid because of ongoing stigma, lack of accommodations, and outdated systems like the subminimum wage. Employers sometimes assume we can do less, or that accommodating us is too costly, which is not true. The short-term effect is financial insecurity—struggling to afford basic needs. The long-term effect is deeper: it limits independence, lowers self-esteem, and keeps many people trapped in poverty. It also sends the message that our work has less value, which is deeply unfair.
What percentage of disabled persons are impacted by the sub minimum wage and how has the elimination of the subminimum created a better future for them?
So, historically, people with disabilities have been paid below minimum wage under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. That has affected thousands of workers who were earning even less than $1 an hour. Recent advocacy efforts, including from organizations like Access Living and the Equal Pay Chicago Coalition (EPCC), have pushed for change. These wins mean we are moving toward equal pay for equal work. It’s a step toward dignity, independence, and inclusion—and it creates a future where young people with disabilities can dream without limits.
What can we do to ensure everyone has the same access to a fair quality of life?
I think that we need to change the mindset. Disability inclusion isn’t charity, it’s equity. We can ensure a fair quality of life for all by enforcing accessibility and accommodation laws in every workplace, promoting inclusive hiring practices and equal pay, offering education and awareness to remove stigma, and listening to people with disabilities, including us in decisions about us. The real transformation happens when inclusion becomes the norm—when society stops seeing disability as a limitation and starts seeing it as part of human diversity.