In 2004, a surf accident left Josh Basile with a severe spinal cord injury and permanent paralysis at the age of 18. Although his life was changed forever, Basile continued to pursue his dreams and graduated. law school.
Basile, now an attorney, philanthropist, disability rights advocate, and community relations manager for a web accessibility company accessiBe, has worked tirelessly to promote web accessibility and is a leader in the disability community. From fighting for the seriously injured in court, to inventing an all-inclusive sport called Slingshot Golf, to starting a nonprofit for people with spinal cord injuries , Basile enjoyed tremendous success throughout his career.
CNBC Make It spoke with Josh Basile to discuss three tips for people with disabilities trying to achieve career success:
“Find a Mentor”
“Find someone who is doing something well and learn from their experience,” says Basile.
Gaining insight from people in similar situations can be helpful for people who are uncertain about their future potential after a trauma. “Watch someone’s trail because a lot of people in the working world are figuring out what not to do,” he told CNBC Make It. “Dissect the mistakes to avoid and let that guide you in the right direction.”
Basile credits the mentorship for providing him with motivation early on in his crippled journey.
“My mentors have taught me that life still happens in beautiful ways and that I can still purposefully pursue my goals and dreams. They have shown me what is possible. and give me the confidence to fight and advocate for a better future.”
According to a Research 2020 from Guider, a career development company. According to research, 87% of people who are mentored feel like their mentoring relationship has given them a sense of empowerment and boosted their confidence. Those with mentors were also 5 times more likely to be promoted than those without them.
“Believe in yourself”
According to Basile, your personal and professional success will largely be influenced by realizing the value of your contributions.
“People with disabilities are often seen as charitable. And that’s far from the truth.” Basil said. “There’s great value in your unique voice, skills and talents. Businesses need you.”
Being able to articulate your strengths and contribute fully in your work will give you confidence. Believing in yourself not only puts you ahead of your opportunities but also shows others how capable you are despite your disability. Basile proudly shared that his confidence has not only helped him succeed in his career, but is also expecting a baby boy in March.
“Step out of your comfort zone”
There is a popular saying that “life begins at the bottom of your comfort zone.” Adventuring as a person with a disability can be extremely stressful, especially when there is still so much left room for improvement in accessibility and inclusivity. However, Basile assures that there are many opportunities open to you if you have the will to try.
“I took the initiative to step out of my comfort zone by partnering with accessiBe to help raise awareness, both online and through the media, about the importance of web accessibility and what it really means for people with disabilities and businesses of all sizes” , I said.” I strongly believe in living with the wheel of adventure. The outside world can be very scary, but eventually you will realize that there is a lot of life to live. “
Basile also says that putting yourself out there is also beneficial for the disability community at large.
“Once you get out there, you not only improve your quality of life, but you also start to change the way you see the world around you. You start to teach the people around you the value and importance of being there. disabled workers at all levels of business, not just entry level. You are helping to create a better world.”
