The Financial Health of People With Disabilities: Jonathan’s Story

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Jonathan’s Story

A Former Banker Navigates Life Through a New Lens

For Jonathan, going blind as an adult brought drastic changes to his professional and personal life. Here, he shares his story as part of our in-depth report on the financial health of people with disabilities.

A Lack of Accommodations Leads to Job Loss

While working in the banking industry in his early thirties, Jonathan began to lose his eyesight. When he told his manager he was having trouble seeing his computer screen, her response was clear: You’re on your own. Ultimately, Jonathan left his banking career due to a lack of accommodations. He held a few other jobs until blindness forced him to stop working completely.

“When I started to go blind, I told my manager I was having trouble seeing. She suggested I get some magnifying screens. Not that she would purchase them, but that I could buy them. And that was pretty much it.”

Jonathan holding his white cane while sitting in his dining room, looking away from the camera.

Today, the Nashville-based 39-year-old gets by on disability payments, which he supplements by selling luxury goods from home. He’s learning how to use assistive technologies for blind people, and he plans to attend a vocational school for the blind to become a credit repair specialist.

In the meantime, Jonathan has moved in with his mother to reduce his expenses. For Jonathan and other friends living on disability benefits, their incomes haven’t kept up with rising cost of living – especially housing.

“We’re not able to save, buy food, go to the doctor, and have a decent amount of entertainment. The main expense is housing… I know a lot of my friends are having to live with people.”

Research

The Financial Health of People with Disabilities

This personal finhealth story is a part of our latest research report on the financial health of people living with disabilities. Immerse yourself in the key findings, obstacles, and opportunities that exist in this nearly universal experience.

Read the Report

See Simone's Story

Unexpected expenses often mean stretched budgets for disabled people. As part of our in-depth report on the financial health of people with disabilities, 21-year-old Simone shares her experience.

See Melanie's Story

What does it feel like to navigate a bank branch as a disabled person? Melanie opens up about her experience and shares lessons for the industry as part of our in-depth report on the financial health of people with disabilities.

Acknowledgments

This report was developed with support from Principal Foundation and in partnership with the National Disability Institute and The Harkin Institute.

Photography Credit: Hunter Hart Photography