Jacoby Brown, a legally blind employee at Walmart in Little Rock, Arkansas, is sharing his journey to encourage others with disabilities.
The 24-year-old stocker works in a single day shifts whereas managing a number of extreme eye situations that restrict his imaginative and prescient to only 20 toes, which most individuals can see from 200.
Though every day life is difficult, Jacoby says the toughest half has been discovering regular work.
Now, he’s talking out to point out that dedication can push via even the hardest boundaries.
“Numerous the those who I come throughout, they’re not good,” he tells PEOPLE. “You probably have a incapacity on the market, you recognize this, lots of people that we come throughout, they don’t seem to be good.”
Overcoming challenges to seek out regular work as a legally blind worker
In 2023, Jacoby utilized for a job at Walmart. He was upfront about his incapacity with Brenda Draper, the shop’s “individuals lead.”
Brenda supplied him an opportunity, and Brown started as a “zoner,” accountable for cleansing a delegated retailer space.
This was a part of the shop’s lodging for his authorized blindness. After just a few months, he moved on to stocking. This job was initially intimidating, but it surely grew to become simpler with time and expertise.
Sharing his story on social media
As a legally blind worker, Jacoby shares his journey on TikTok beneath the deal with “theblindguy_,” documenting the every day challenges of his situation.
Regardless of the obstacles, his movies mirror a constructive and decided angle.
He has maintained this outlook for years, beginning with Snapchat movies at Henderson State College.
Though he confronted bullying, he turned the negativity into motivation, naming his account after one of many harsh labels he was given.
“You name me this, however I don’t care,” Jacoby says.
Jacoby initially made humorous movies on Snapchat, with many encouraging him to attempt TikTok.
At first, he didn’t take their recommendation, however throughout the early days of COVID, he determined to offer it a shot.
Though he wasn’t posting a lot initially, he ultimately started sharing movies, although they didn’t entice a lot consideration.
That modified in November 2024, when Jacoby posted a TikTok throughout a break from his in a single day shift.
Within the video, he mentioned the significance of individuals with disabilities placing themselves “on the market.”
Whereas the video was later deleted, it marked a key second in his social media journey.
“I used to be strolling via the becoming room, and I used to be identical to, ‘Effectively, I need to create a TikTok about me being legally blind and an in a single day stocker,’” he recollects. “I didn’t even know that the video was going to go viral, but it surely did.”
Jacoby was shocked by the swift consideration his video acquired, shortly surpassing 20,000 views inside two hours and reaching over 300,000 in only a week and a half.
In an surprising present of help, Walmart’s government vice chairman shared the LinkedIn video praising his “laborious work.”
Jacoby was overwhelmed by the constructive suggestions, saying it introduced him pleasure to see how the video impressed not simply individuals with disabilities but in addition these with out.
Assist and respect within the office
Jacoby makes use of his TikTok account to spotlight the struggles he and others within the incapacity group face, together with unemployment and rising prices.
He says individuals with disabilities typically face discrimination, with many employers seeing them as a legal responsibility and refusing to rent them.
He additionally factors out that folks with disabilities are typically taken benefit of, particularly when asking for assist with issues like getting rides.
Having left faculty on account of psychological well being points, Jacoby has labored at locations like Chick-fil-A and in numerous factories, acknowledging that he has confronted challenges in each job he’s had.
Jacoby says the help and respect he receives from his workforce make his present job stand out—a uncommon expertise in his earlier workplaces.
Brenda explains that Jacoby confirmed robust motivation from the beginning. Though there have been just a few challenges early on, she notes that his development has been spectacular.
She factors out that many workers with out disabilities solely keep just a few weeks or months. Nonetheless, Jacoby has remained dedicated and continues to take pleasure in his work.
Jacoby provides that, for the primary time, he appears like he really belongs within the office. Though it could take him a bit longer to finish sure duties, his coworkers deal with him with endurance and understanding.
Wanting forward, Jacoby plans to return to varsity and pursue a profession in social work. His aim is to help others with disabilities find jobs and constructing fulfilling careers.
“They’re actually scared to only put themselves on the market as a result of they’re scared of individuals being imply and issues like that,” he says. “However I simply say, ‘Chances are you’ll get 5, 6, 7 no’s, however simply hold going as a result of I promise you, you’re going to get that sure.’”
Right here’s Jacobe, sharing his every day routine at Walmart as a legally blind worker:
@theeblindguy_ Ydon’t let your incapacity cease you #legallyblind #walmart #blindcommunity ♬ authentic sound – jacoby
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