People with Disabilities

None of us is perfect. We each bring with us some kind of imperfection to the workplace.

The problem is, that many employers unwittingly add to our 'disability' through their expectations of what their ideal worker would be like. This is better known as prejudice, and it is something we all have.

For some of us, our imperfections make it difficult to get a job. This is when it is called a 'disability', which is a term I personally don't like as most people find they are not disabled at all outside the workplace. This is because we adapt to our environment, through doing things in different ways, by using technology to assist us, and through modifications.

In most cases, we can easily modify our working environments as well, but we need to know how. Often though, deciding on what to do for a job or career becomes limited, because we put our 'disability' first. A better way to do it would be to think about what we are good at, what we enjoy doing, and then working out how to modify our work environment.

Whether you have a disability or not, it is always best to do work that makes you feel happy. If you are a social person, this will probably mean you will be happiest working alongside others. If you are a person who likes a quiet place to do your work, you should find a workplace where you are left to do your job without too much chatter and interruption.

You should also try to find work that allows you to do the things you are good at: is it working with computers, baking, driving, writing, selling or serving, for example?

If you aren't sure what interests you, think about how much time you spend talking to others (or wishing you had others to talk to!), whether you are fascinated by numbers, or you like tinkering with machinery, for example. This is usually a good indication of what your skills and interests are.

If you haven't worked for a while because you have acquired a disability, or if you have had your disability for a long time and haven't thought you could work, then you might need to just start with any job, just so you learn about the work environment and what is required of workers. After that, you can start to look for jobs that are more suitable, if you want. You don;t have to stay in the one job forever; in fact you might find that your first job is a casual one, or a seasonal one. There is nothing wrong with taking short term jobs, and you are getting more experience all the time, so give it a try.

Working has many benefits: it gives us something to do, and receiving money is a kind of independence. Finding work that we like to do makes us feel better about ourselves, and can actually be good for our health.