The impact of accessibility and flexibility within the workplace: the story of Justin Lopez’s work-from-home career

In the sea of Asurion’s 19,000 employees, one person is standing out, making tidal waves of change bringing greater accessibility to the 61 million Americans with disabilities. “Having a disability is not the end game,” and Justin Lopez is living proof of that.  

Lucky for us, Justin decided to jumpstart his career at Asurion. Fresh out of college, Justin relocated to Tennessee and began his journey as an Asurion Expert. He was on the frontline, taking incoming customer calls solving their every tech-related need. Justin recalls his eagerness to learn and grow into something more than an expert: “If I can get [just] a little bit better with each coaching [lesson], I can be a top performer here.” Surrounded by supportive peers and coaches, Justin wanted the opportunity to move into a coach role. And guess what? He did just that.  

Justin lives with Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD), a condition where groups of muscles are weakened and continue to lose functionality. Everyday tasks that he used to perform without any hesitation are challenging and feel like a labor-heavy project. Like others with LGMD, Justin’s muscular atrophy has increased over time. Thinking back, he remembers “sprinting up and down the basketball court, [to now] using a power wheelchair on a permanent basis.” Today Justin Lopez is a Customer Solutions Lead for one of our largest telecommunications partners, leading a robust team of support experts across the nation. Just last quarter, Justin was awarded a Supervisor Award in recognition of all the great work he’s done within the Customer Solutions department. Leading interview efforts, revamping training material, and reorganizing the tools used to support our 300M+ customers worldwide are just a few ways Justin has impacted his team and our company.  

This week marks a milestone in Justin’s career and journey with LGMD. He was invited to speak and host a Q&A session for attendees of our annual Asurion Academy. Hosted by our product team, this year’s Academy is bringing awareness to accessibility within the workplace and who better to share the message than Justin himself. Before his session, we caught up with him and he shared how he leverages his passion for accessibility to make his home-state more accessible and how he’s paving a pathway for Asurion to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Check it out: 

Tell us about your involvement within the muscular dystrophy community and your Ohio community.  

In college at Bowling Green State University, I created an organization called DREAM that focused on building disability awareness (physical and mental) around the campus. I walked school leaders through a colorful view of what it was like to live the college experience with a disability and helped teach them how to create an encouraging and inclusive community for individuals with disabilities.  

I’ve created and served on several panel boards with the purpose of debunking myths and stereotypes regarding disabilities. I answered questions and provided guidance on proper etiquette when communicating with individuals who have various disabilities – some of which were shared at Asurion, too.  

Lastly, I’ve created and been the subject of several videos that have been produced by The Ability Center & 13ABC News with the focus of showing what’s it's like to work while having a disability. 

Can you share details around the donation and awareness campaign you ran within Asurion in partnership with the MDA? 

For the work-at-home [Customer Solutions] team called the Tigers, we put our performance to the test. With every save, sale and perfect survey we received, Asurion donated to the SPEAK Foundation. SPEAK is a foundation who focuses on providing research and resources for individuals with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. In total, we were able to donate over $1000 in September 2023. 

What advice would you give to aspiring professionals with physical disabilities? 

First, I would tell them to try it out and give it their 100%. You can’t keep sitting on the sidelines wondering “what if”. Sometimes, we worry about “what if it doesn’t pan out”—instead, showcase what you can bring to a company or team. It might surprise you and them because everyone brings something to the table. Secondly, use the resources provided to you and take the helping hand. There’s no shame in using it. Whether it’s asking for work accommodations and/or a peer grabbing you water from the machine, if it’s going to help you perform at a high level, use it! It takes a village to be successful. 

What advice would you give to corporations to help lower the barrier of entry for professionals with physical disabilities?  

Inclusion comes in a variety of ways, so be prepared, be flexible, and most of all, be understanding. Be upfront and realistic about the requirements of a role. Sometimes role descriptions are insensitive and can be discouraging to those with physical disabilities; so, make sure the role is reviewed. Also make sure you include the resources you provide, too! Make sure individuals with physical disabilities feel like there is a place for them at your company. 

We are so proud of Justin’s successes and achievement inside and outside of the walls of Asurion. He continues to defy odds and we are so glad we can be a resource in his journey.  

Everyone is welcome at Asurion, and we jump at the opportunity to have great people working alongside us. If you are ready to propel your career, you can get started today.