A young woman has shared how her new job had a great reaction when she arrived after not mentioning her wheelchair during the application.

In a now-viral video, viewed over 1.6 million times, Jayla, who didn't give her surname, flashes a playful grin and adjusts her colorful sweater. In the caption, she wrote: "Fit check before I show up to my first day of work in my wheelchair after checking 'No, I do not have a disability' on the job application."

Instead of disclosing the fact she uses a wheelchair during the job application process, Jayla waited until she had the job, something she explained was both a strategic decision and a quiet act of defiance.

"I decided to check 'no' because, in my three years as a wheelchair user, I've learned how society often views disabled people-as inconveniences," Jayla told Newsweek. "Many companies will tack on arbitrary requirements, like 'must be able to lift 35 pounds' or 'stand for long periods,' even for jobs that don't need those skills. It's a coded way of keeping people like me out."

In a follow-up video, Jayla shared how well her first day went, explaining that her boss was very happy to see her, and didn't even mention the wheelchair. She added: "This is actually the most accessible place I've ever worked. It went amazing."

Jayla's experience is not unique. Job seekers with disabilities routinely encounter barriers that extend far beyond ramps and elevators. Fear of discrimination and rejection often drives them to hide their disabilities during the application process.

This is despite the fact that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is there to protect people with disabilities. Under the ADA, applicants aren't required to disclose a disability unless it directly affects their ability to perform essential job duties, but the stigma remains pervasive.

"I know what I'm capable of," Jayla said. "Whatever an able-bodied person can do, I can do. It might just look a little different."

The AD) protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in the hiring process and during employment. The law prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified applicants based on disability and ensures that disabled individuals have equal access to job opportunities. The ADA also mandates reasonable accommodations for disabled employees, such as accessible facilities or modified work schedules, to help them perform their duties effectively.

Despite her concerns, Jayla's first day on the job was met with positivity. Her coworkers didn't question her wheelchair or her abilities. In fact, she was greeted with compliments-her wheelchair's light-up wheels were an instant hit.

"I didn't feel judged at all," she said. "Everyone seemed happy to have me on the team. It was such a relief."

Yet, the humor in Jayla's TikTok is underscored by a lingering sadness. For her and many others, the decision to omit a disability from a job application is not taken lightly. "I shared the video because I thought it was funny, but also because it's heartbreaking that I even have to do this," she said. "I want disabled people to feel inspired to go after what they want. And I want able-bodied people to take a step back, check their ableism, and listen to us. Accommodations are easy-so why is inclusion so hard?"

Jayla's story struck a nerve, with hundreds of commenters flooding her post with their own experiences. "I got denied for a job I worked at before, but now I have an epilepsy diagnosis," one user wrote. Another shared, "I always check 'prefer not to answer' because why is it even their business?"

Pleased with the response, Jayla said that there is still plenty of work to be done when it comes to inclusivity in the workplace. "There's still this unspoken assumption that disabled people can't contribute equally," she said. "But that's just not true. We're resourceful, adaptable, and capable of doing amazing work if given the chance."

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