Honors Student Dedicates Career to Helping People with Disabilities

Honors Student Dedicates Career to Helping People with Disabilities

Jordan Slutsky has known for a while that she wanted to dedicate her life to be an advocate for people with disabilities.

She just didn't know how she would pursue that as a career.

"My original plan when I entered college was to go into law as my career and be a disability lawyer," Slutsky said. "I realized through my internship in advocacy at the Ability Center that I loved working individually with people who have disabilities in the community."

"I was then directed to disability studies. I also decided on political science as a double major because I thought I would feel more prepared for law school that way."

Slutsky would eventually decide that law would not be her future, and she preferred working with people one on one. An honors student graduating Dec. 14 with bachelor of arts degrees in disability studies and political science, Slutsky works as the independent living teen services coordinator at the Ability Center of Greater Toledo.

After graduation, she intends on continuing her passion for helping disabled individuals through her position.

"I work with a caseload of just over 90 teens, ages 17 to 22," she said. "Within this group, I work individually with 30 teens on independent living goals such as cooking, following a routine, career exploration and readiness, and so on. The rest of my continuously growing caseload of teens participates in recreational activities to work on communication and social skills."

Dr. Rebecca Monteleone, an assistant professor in the Disability Studies Program in the College of Arts and Letters, said Slutsky is a force for disability rights.

"Jordan is driven, passionate, and always operates from a place of deep caring," Monteleone said. "It has been a pleasure watching her blossom during her time in the disability studies program at UToledo, from new student to independent researcher and burgeoning professional. She has grown in confidence as a scholar and advocate by leaps and bounds, and I have no doubt that she will be a changemaker."

Slutsky said she is grateful for the faculty members in disability studies for helping her achieve her goals.

"I would not be where I am today without them," she said. "I am happy where I am, and I want to take some time after graduation to enjoy what I do and work with the population that I work with every day."

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