Get Over Yourself... We're Only Disabled Part 13
Get Over Yourself...We're Only Disabled
Hey my lovely readers, hope you are well.
Chapter 13
Going out into the world of work is a massive step towards a person’s independence. Working can have a different meaning depending on how people look at it. People will be able to do different tasks according to their disability, meaning that people will prefer doing particular tasks that they would be able to cope with. Companies should make allowances for those that may find it difficult to do certain tasks. For example, someone in a wheelchair might not be able to stack shelves in a supermarket as they are too high but they might be able to work on the tills, as this may be more manageable for them.
It’s also about gaining the skills the person needs to work on, such as finding out an easy and accessible route to get to and from their place of work, or finding equipment that would suit their needs such as an adjustable table, so they can fit their wheelchair under and be able to reach or a computer with an bigger keyboard so they can type easier. Whatever the person needs support with, the company should be supportive of this and provide support when trying to find solutions that will help the person to be able to work in a safe and positive way. It will support the person to feel that they can go out to work like any other adult; this is making it fair.
Most companies should have the Disability Confident Scheme or The Two Ticks positive action scheme in place. This means that the company will legally consider the person, however, it doesn't mean that the person is guaranteed an interview depending on what skills and qualities they have, meaning the company can't decline a person in the interview process just based on their disability. I think this is a reasonable action to have in all companies, as this gives everyone with disabilities a chance to be able to go to work and use their skills, just like other able bodied people.
We might require assistance at work, which might need to be in different forms of support. However, some people may want to go to work to become more independent to help them in other areas of life. Therefore, they may need support but this support could be limited so that they feel like they are working like other adults. For example, when I did work experience through school or college, I needed support from staff to set up a task then I was normally okay to do the task independently.
However, in my work experience I have been turned away from certain placements because of my disability. The company felt that I was too much of a high risk, what with being in a wheelchair. This wasn't neither the companies or my fault, it was because of my disability, they needed to follow safety precautions. I do see their point of view but it made me feel like because of my wheelchair they didn't have any interest in me. They only saw my wheelchair and not that I was a reliable person for the work.
Working, whether it is paid or voluntary, can be a big achievement for someone with a disability as it gives them a sense of independence and being part of society. It helps them to understand the working environment and working with other people, not just their family and people that are normally around them; it gives them a chance to meet new people. This will help them to develop more social skills and learn about what is out there rather than just being with the same people all of the time.
Questions that need to be considered when someone with a disability is applying for a job includes, are they able to do the job that is in hand? Will the person be working independently or will they have to bring an assistant with them? Is the technology/equipment appropriate and suitable for their needs? etc. There are loads of points that need to be considered when someone with a disability applies for a job and this should be important to both the person and the company.
We live in a diverse world, where everyone should have a right to be able to work and fulfil their dream of having an occupation. People should be offered the choice to do the job that they wish to do and love doing. Society needs to be more accepting towards people with disabilities and offer them the same or slightly adaptive opportunities as everyone else that they hire. All people, disabled or not should be offered chances to work.
Thank you for reading this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it.
Abbie xx
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