A year and a half ago, I found myself in a position I never thought I would be in: I found myself fighting for my daughter's rights. My sweet, smart girl was being kicked out of her private school for nothing more than a request for an IEP and for those regulations to be followed. As we got deeper and deeper into the disaster of a situation we had found ourselves entrenched in, I realized an important fact about myself: I am a FIGHTER! I am PASSIONATE! And I am fully ready to tell anyone who asks why their actions are unethical or wrong. Don't get me wrong, the Constitution has done amazing things for our country and her people that just simply would not have occurred on their own. We have freedoms so many other countries don't have and a way of life that allows us to view things on a whole other level. Upholding the standards we already have is of the utmost importance. For me though, civil rights go much further than just what the Constitution dictates. A lot has changed since 1787 and, while amendments have been implemented to allow for these changes in our world, other things are still lacking. Laws still need to be made or amended to protect the little guy (or, in my case, little gal). There are still things that we need to fight for, to ensure that everyone, regardless of disability or any other difference we may see as a burden, is treated with respect, dignity, and kindness. Taking the situation for my daughter into account, I knew I had to do something to ensure that this situation changed. What is missing? What is the key ingredient to ensuring that loopholes are closed and adequate light is shed on the equality issues our country still sees in this area? I had to look a little further back in my own journey to know what I needed to do. See, before the pandemic, before the issues with my daughter, before any of this happened, I had my own struggles. I was struggling with anxiety and PTSD and found myself unable to seek adequate care. Not because I didn't want to, and certainly not because I didn't need to, but because my employer couldn't let me off work for therapy appointments every week. The requests, while sometimes approved, were always met with hesitation and somewhat of a snarky attitude. As a single mother at the time, I had few options for childcare outside of work hours and therapy appointments after 5 pm were hard to come by. As a result, I found myself suffering in silence more often than I was not. But why? Why was this attitude being presented? After we experienced the pandemic, and after the aforementioned situation with my daughter occurred, I realized that the stigma surrounding all disabilities was outstanding. So, in my doctoral studies, I am determined to research the effects the pandemic has had on this stigma. Are things better now? Are people getting the support they need? Or are they still met with hesitancy and side glances? Are employers and schools alike starting to see the error of their ways? This is my passion, as it should be; there are so many other families dealing with similar circumstances. I endeavor to find a way to shed more light on this subject and bring more liberties to people like me, people like my daughter; people who can't find the voice to advocate for themselves.