Holly is a 24-year-old disability
blogger who is registered blind. Today, she talks to us about her employment
experiences and how she has been able to support others along the way.
You’d like to
think that disabled people have equal opportunities in the workplace, but
unfortunately that’s not the case. Securing work can be an uphill battle for
many disabled people because we are denied the opportunity to show what we’re
capable of.
I graduated university
in 2017 and started the search to find a graduate job, just like all my sighted
peers. However, I don’t think I was fully prepared for how difficult it was
going to be. I came across countless jobs that I was unable to do because of my
visual impairment, also I often felt overlooked.
The good news
is that I found employment within 6 months of finishing my degree. It was a
long 6 months, but I know that many disabled people are not in that position
and struggle to find work despite having the skills, qualifications and
experience.
Working as an
Assistive Technology Advisor
When I came
across a job for an Assistive Technology Advisor at the university I studied
at, I really liked the sound of it. I have a keen interest in technology and
wanted to work with disabled people, so the role was perfect for me. After applying
for the job, it was a surprise to be offered the position!
The main
focus of my job is to teach students how to use a range of assistive technology
that can aid them with their studies, I also promote assistive technology and
the benefits of using it.
I’ve been
working at the university for just over two years and it has been great. I’ve
had opportunities that I never thought I’d have, such as speaking at a
conference and running workshops.
Many of my
colleagues had never worked with a visually impaired person before, so it was a
learning curve for everyone. I work with extremely supportive people; I’m
constantly learning new skills and broadening my knowledge. Yet most
importantly, I’m valued and understood. My disability isn’t overlooked, in
fact, it’s embraced.
Adapting your
job
I couldn’t do
my job without support and adaptions; they enable me to carry out my role
to the best of my ability. I received the following support from Access
To Work:
- Orientation
and mobility training around the campus when I started.
- Assistive
technology and equipment, including my screen-reader and a braille display.
- Travel
costs so I can get to and from work.
Access To
Work is fantastic, however certain aspects of the system meant that I was
unable to do my job properly for a few months. This is because you have the
assessment once you start work, it can then take a while for the support to be
put in place. As I was the only member of staff with a visual impairment the university
didn’t have the screen-reader I used. This initially held me back, but thankfully
things were soon sorted.
Supporting
others
I know how
difficult it can be to find a job when you have a visual impairment or any
other disability, the barriers we face can include inaccessible application
forms or being overlooked. But I also know the incredible feeling of getting a
job and having an employer that looks beyond disability.
I don’t have
extensive knowledge about employment and would never claim to do so, but what I
do have is my own personal experiences. I share these to try and campaign for
change and equal opportunities for everyone. I aim to show students that
disabled people can get a job and I hope to give other disabled people the
confidence to do the same.
I also try to
support others through my writing, by sharing tips and advice on finding work,
putting support in place and ensuring that employers understand your
disability. One of the most important things that I try to do is to show
employers that there is no reason they can’t employ disabled people. There is
support available, such as Access To Work, that can benefit both disabled
people and employers. I also want to show employers that there are so many
benefits of employing disabled people and that they should focus on the
positives.
I believe we
have a long way to go before disabled people have equal access in the
workplace, but by sharing my experiences I hope it helps to create change and
show that more needs to be done.
You can
follow Holly’s work by reading her blog, Life as
a Blind Girl. Or you can
follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
If you would
like support getting into work then take a look at Scope's employment services to see how we could
help. There also is employment information on our website.
Have you felt
overlooked by an employer? What support would help you to work? Let us know in
the comments below!
