Boundless Abilities Episode 53: When the System Fails People with Disabilities, Nick Comstock Speaks Up

What happens when society builds systems that leave people with disabilities isolated, unemployed, and without essential services? Nick Comstock has lived that reality—and he's speaking up about it.

Nick joins us to share his journey living with cytomegalovirus (CMV), a condition that's left him wheelchair-dependent with spasticity and dystonia. With remarkable candor and humor, he opens up about spending "a lot of time in my bedroom alone with a TV, phone and computer" after high school when services disappeared. This "services cliff" affects countless young adults with disabilities who suddenly lose their support systems and social connections.

Only 22% of people with disabilities were employed in 2023, despite this being the highest rate since data collection began in 2008. Nick himself has been declared "unemployable" by authorities in multiple counties solely because of his disability. Yet he's defied these limitations by creating "Nick Speaks," a successful podcast dedicated to disability issues that's approaching 30 episodes.

Transportation emerges as a critical barrier throughout our conversation. As Nick explains, needing to schedule rides 30 days in advance versus 30 minutes makes spontaneous outings, job opportunities, and dating nearly impossible. He challenges listeners to reconsider how we structure inclusion, noting that special programs sometimes unintentionally create bubbles rather than bridges.

Nick leaves us with a powerful message for organizations and employers: people with disabilities "love passionately" and "want to work harder and contribute to their community." His story reminds us that beyond policies and programs are human beings seeking the same connections and purpose we all desire.