Busting myths on disability and employment

One of the main aims of my blog is to tackle the common misconceptions and stigmas surrounding vision impairment and disability in order to raise awareness of the challenges we face, also to educate society to hopefully create change.

 

Employment is a topic that can be a sensitive subject for many disabled people, it can bring challenges and it can also bring pride and gratitude. Everyone’s experiences of employment are unique and everyone feels a different way about it, we’re all at different stages of our employment journey – whether you’re still figuring out what you want to do, actively looking for a job or are in employment, we all go on our own journey. One thing that I’m sure we can all agree on is that finding a job can be difficult, especially when you have a disability.

 

The working world is so diverse, but diversity and equality can be overlooked when it comes to employment for disabled people.

It’s 2019, you would like to think that disability would be accepted in all aspects of society, sadly this is often not the case, especially in regards to employment.

 

Getting a job can be difficult. It could be argued that disabled people face even more barriers when trying to secure work.

Why is that the case?

 

Employers often have outdated attitudes on disability, this means that disabled people face barriers straight away. Research by the disability charity Scope found that 85% of disabled people feel that employer attitudes haven’t changed over the last four years.

 

When that box ‘do you have a disability?’ Is ticked on an application form, employers sometimes disregard disabled people’s applications, meaning that disabled people are denied the opportunity of showing what they’re capable of, just because of their disability. There is a debate whether we should tick that box and disclose our disability or not, this is something that’s personal to everyone. Personally, I have always ticked that box and tried to demonstrate the skills my disability has given me and portray my disability in a positive light. I know that not all employers look beyond that box, therefore, they don’t see beyond a person’s disability.

It shouldn’t be like that.

 

Employment is a topic that I would like to discuss more on my blog. I shared some top tips on looking for a job when you have a disability, I think it’s important to highlight this topic now more than ever.

With that in mind, I thought that I would bust some myths on disability and employment. I know that this won’t change disability and employment as a whole, but if it makes even one employer change their attitudes on disability, then that’s a step in the right direction.

 

Let’s bust some myths on disability and employment, shall we?

 

Disability means a physical disability

Oh definitely not. There is a range of disabilities and not all of them are visible either, we can’t forget about invisible disabilities and chronic illnesses.

The 2010 Equality Act states that a disability is “a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial or long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.”

This states that not all disabilities are physical and that there are in fact, a vast number of disabilities.

 

Disabled people aren’t capable of holding down a job

We are often perceived to be incapable of doing many things, holding down a job being one of them. When we do so, we are seen as inspiring.

Let’s get the facts straight, disabled people can work, we can hold down a good job and we are most certainly capable of doing so.

We may need adaptions but this isn’t a bad thing as they enable us to do the job to the same standard as non-disabled people.

 

We will stay in the same job forever

We won’t stay in a job forever because we are so grateful for that job, and that someone has given us a chance.

We applied for the job like everyone else – it fit our skills and interests and experience. We live life like non-disabled people and will get a new job when the time is right.

We want to move up the career ladder, we want to succeed.

Having a disability doesn’t take away changes in our lives.

 

Disabled people don’t want to work

Why wouldn’t we want to get a job?

Our disability doesn’t mean that we have glamorous lives where we don’t need or want to work. Having a disability doesn’t stop us from having the desire to work or take away our aspiration to achieve, succeed and get a job that we enjoy and that we are good at.

I don’t know a disabled person that doesn’t want to work. We want to work and contribute to society.

 

Disabled people only work within the disability sector

Having a disability makes you an expert in that disability, yet it doesn’t mean that you want to work in that field, or have to work in that field. Yes, disabled people do work in the disability sector (myself included). That’s because we have an interest in that area, not because we have a disability so it’s the only sector we can get a job in.

Disabled people can work in a variety of roles, the list is endless.

 

A disabled employee is unlikely to contribute as much as a non-disabled employee

With the right adjustments, adaptions and support, there is no reason that disabled employees can’t contribute as much as a non-disabled employee.

Disabled people are overlooked. Employers are missing out on potential talent.

 

It is expensive to employ a disabled person

Employers should provide reasonable adjustments for disabled employees, many of these aren’t expensive.

Schemes such as Access to Work provide help and support such as specialist equipment and assistive technology, help with travel costs for commuting, and also mental health support.

These schemes enable disabled people to carry out their job like non-disabled people and also help employers provide reasonable adjustments.

 

Disabled people have a higher absentee record than non-disabled employees

Having a disability doesn’t mean that we are off sick all the time. If we need time off due to our disability then reasonable adjustments should be put in place.

 

Disabled people need constant support

With the right adjustments and support, disabled people can work independently.

Some disabled people may choose to have a support worker which can be put in place through schemes such as Access to work, but this is simply to help them with tasks they may struggle with because of their disability, not do the job for them.

Personally, I don’t have a Support Worker in my current role, that’s my personal choice because I don’t feel I need one.

 

Employees may feel uncomfortable around disabled people

Everyone feels uncomfortable around people they don’t know at first, add a disability into the mix and things may or may not be challenging, it’s different for everyone.

Non-disabled people may be scared of saying or doing the wrong things. Once everyone gets to know each other, you start to learn about disability, and you quickly learn the do’s and don’ts.

In reality, disabled people can feel uncomfortable as well.

 

When I started my job, I was nervous, there were times when I may have felt uncomfortable. I’m pretty sure that it was the same for my sighted colleagues. I got to know them and they got to know me. Many of them aren’t just my colleagues anymore, they’re my friends. They soon realised when I needed help and when I didn’t. Most importantly they saw me for the person I am, not just my disability.

Companies should be diverse, just like the real world.

 

Disabled people are unable to meet performance standards

This is nothing to do with a person’s disability. It could be argued that this is why reasonable adjustments are so important, as they mean that disabled people can perform to the same standards as non-disabled people.

 

There are no stereotypes

Why is it when disabled people tick that box and disclose their disability, they are overlooked, their skills aren’t taken into account and they aren’t considered for the job? Why do employers assume the myths mentioned above?

Disabled people aren’t always seen as equal. If you think about it, there are always stereotypes in many aspects of society. Research by the RNIB found that 35% of blind and vision impaired people sometimes, frequently or always face negative attitudes from the public in regards to their vision impairment. These negative attitudes from the public can then transpire into employment or education for example. This statistic shows that there are still stereotypes in the society we live in. We need to ask ourselves: why isn’t disability normalised in society?

 

I know that there are many employers that have positive attitudes towards disability, they employ disabled people for their skills and experience, and provide reasonable adjustments. We should shout about these employers because they deserve to be celebrated! They don’t treat us differently to anyone else and are inclusive. I’m extremely grateful to work for an employer that sees my skills, my talent and passion for what I do.

I know that there are also employers that aren’t that positive and don’t see a disabled person for their skills, talents and abilities, so I think busting myths surrounding disability and employment is extremely important.

 

All disabled people want is a chance. If a disabled person applies for a job, they fit the criteria and you’re wondering if to give them a chance or not, ask yourself one question: what’s stopping me from doing so? You may have doubts and worries which can be dealt with over time.

Disabled people want to work, we deserve to work and we shouldn’t be living in a society where we are seen as unequal, incapable and inadequate.

Disabled people can succeed. We can be managers, run a successful business, we can do the things that we set our minds to. Yes, we may have some limitations, I’m blind and there are certain things that I can’t do. That doesn’t take away my vision to succeed and achieve.

You don’t need sight to have vision.

 

See the person, not the disability.

 

Are there any other myths surrounding disability and employment that you would like to bust? Let me know in the comments.

Holly x