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 circumstances that restrict his imaginative and prescient to only 20 ft, which most individuals can see from 200.
Though each day life is difficult, Jacoby says the toughest half has been discovering regular work.
Now, he’s talking out to indicate that dedication can push by means of even the hardest limitations.
“A variety of the folks that I come throughout, they’re not good,” he tells PEOPLE. “When you’ve got a incapacity on the market, this, lots of people that we come throughout, they aren’t good.”
Overcoming challenges to search 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,” chargeable 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 turned 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 each day challenges of his situation.
Regardless of the obstacles, his movies mirror a constructive and decided perspective.
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 strive TikTok.
At first, he didn’t take their recommendation, however in the course of the early days of COVID, he determined to present it a shot.
Though he wasn’t posting a lot initially, he finally started sharing movies, although they didn’t appeal to 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 by means of the becoming room, and I used to be similar 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 obtained, rapidly surpassing 20,000 views inside two hours and reaching over 300,000 in only a week and a half.
In an sudden present of assist, Walmart’s government vp shared the LinkedIn video praising his “exhausting 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 additionally these with out.
Help and respect within the office
Jacoby makes use of his TikTok account to focus on 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 school as a result of psychological well being points, Jacoby has labored at locations like Chick-fil-A and in varied factories, acknowledging that he has confronted challenges in each job he’s had.
Jacoby says the assist and respect he receives from his group make his present job stand out—a uncommon expertise in his earlier workplaces.
Brenda explains that Jacoby confirmed sturdy motivation from the beginning. Though there have been just a few challenges early on, she notes that his progress has been spectacular.
She factors out that many staff 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 actually belongs within the office. Although it might take him a bit longer to finish sure duties, his coworkers deal with him with persistence and understanding.
Wanting forward, Jacoby plans to return to varsity and pursue a profession in social work. His aim is to assist 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, ‘It’s possible you’ll get 5, 6, 7 no’s, however simply maintain going as a result of I promise you, you’re going to get that sure.’”
Right here’s Jacobe, sharing his each day routine at Walmart as a legally blind worker:
@theeblindguy_ Ydon’t let your incapacity cease you #legallyblind #walmart #blindcommunity ♬ unique sound – jacoby
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