Choices 2024 January Special Edition Cupid’s Chase

Cupid’s Chaser Defies Expectations

As a runner who enjoys participating in 5K and half marathon races, Samantha Vitone was excited when she came across the Cupid’s Chase Morristown race in 2018. She saw that like her, Community Options promotes inclusion and supports others’ dreams.

Nearly a decade ago, excited to start the next chapter of her education, Samantha Vitone applied to several colleges as a senior in college. She worked hard in school and advocated for the support she needed to accommodate her learning disability. The only thing holding her back were others’ low expectations.

When Samantha and her mom met with school officials to talk about her impending transition to college, they discouraged her. They told her that her low test scores indicated she was very unlikely to be admitted to college, and that it would be next to impossible for her to graduate. Though initially shocked and disappointed, Samantha ignored the negative feedback and thrived in college.

At first, she was hesitant to ask for accommodation at Salisbury University, but eventually realized she was the only person who could speak up for what she needed. Using her impressive self-advocacy skills, Samantha graduated with a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Salisbury, then went on to obtain her Paralegal Certificate from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she finished school with a 3.5 GPA.

Now, Samantha Vitone works as a Legal Specialist for Litigation and Regulatory Law at Becton Dickinson, one of the largest medical device companies in the world. There, she is involved in the Limitless Associate Resource Group which creates a workplace environment where people with disabilities are openly accepted and valued for their individual contributions.

“I strive to be an advocate for those facing similar challenges to my own, as well as act as a voice to be reckoned with for those who may not have found their own yet. I hope my story gives a reminder that a disability should never hinder you, regardless of how others may not believe in your abilities,” Samantha elaborates.

Says Tracy Mendola, Community Options State Director for Northern New Jersey, “We are thrilled to have a race participant who understands the gravity of our mission from firsthand experience. Her story is a lesson in fortitude from which anyone, whether they have a disability or not, can learn.”

Next up for Samantha: law school. Community Options will cheer for Samantha as she crosses the finish line at Cupid’s Chase 2024, and as she crosses each goal off her list.