The Employment Problem

Laura Bradshaw

So I have multiple disabilities 

Neurofibromatosis type 1 - this causes issues with my bones, muscles, nerves and causes tumours (are mostly benign but some can be cancerous, but some can grow in areas that then causes pain and mobility issues) I have cognitive issues due to NF1, learning difficulties and dsylexia I also have psudarthrosis due to it. It causes pain and mobility issues alongside the NF1 ones,  

I have Depression , anxiety these tie into NF1 and my other condtion ADHD. 

oh and arthritis... 

All these cause various issues... 

I can do physical jobs as I walk with a stick , cant stand long, cant carry much and walk/move ect....

I can do mentally taxing jobs due to everything else....

before having kids I jumped from job to job because I tried to push myself physically and couldnt do it anymore and had to quit...

or I did a office job and couldnt make the targets, couldnt make the min re targets they set just for me, made constant mistakes, or get things very wrong due to my learning difficulties, dsylexia and cognitive issues, as well as poor memory and concertration. no matter how much support (usually  not much but sometimes they did at least try) I had I would not be able to keep up and do what was requited of me. 

so many times I was trained , re trained , had supervisers sit with me micromanaging me (this really triggered my anxiety and made work life torture) 

I would be called into offices to say how behind I was, how I was making too mnay mistakes , how im creating more work than Im doing , how I am letting everyone down , how they are investing lots of time in me and they dont believe Im retunring the favour (ie being lazy) 

Eventually I would be let go and if they couldnt do that life would be made so unbearable I would quit. 

i just do not see what work I could possibly ever do. who would even want me? I wouldnt want me. 

my husband proof reads and edits most things for me. He also knows how to explain most things to me. 

There are so many things I cant understand without help...

I am currently a stay at home mum but things are getting tight.... 

I will unlikely be able to start work until my youngest get full fundeed hours. As we cant afford the fees and any job Id have wont pay them

my husband earns 22k but after tax, student loans (on old system) and his pension and dental plan comes out ( he needs it he has a bone muscle problem in his mouth) he takes home 1300 a month. we then have child tax credit (dont qualify for tax credits)  child benifit and my pip which were currently fighting for because appparentnly my creative degree means I have no cognitive issues hallauha! 

We dont qaulify for any other help have done all the online calculators ect...

I just dont understand how there isnt more help for people like me... What employer would take me? What work can I actually do if I constantly make mistakes and never get enough done? 

I want to contribute and earn money but I just dont see how... I cant work full time every time I have I have had a mental brakedown, or its triggered physical flare ups..

The way ESA works as its only contribution based I cant get it.... I dont think theres anything else I can get... 

I keep getting told work from home like thats a magical answer, but what would I do? I cant transcribe as that a huge thing I sturggle with and people have to do that for me lol 

I dont have a particular skill, or tallent...

I just dont know what I can do...

I am causing my family to struggle because I cannot work full time and bring home a second wage and I hate that .... 

I know Im not alone here... I dont know what the answer is 

Sandy_123

Hi there, you do have a lot going on. You've come to the right place for support and advice. I've put a link down below, that you might find useful, lots of information, scope run a support programme to help you search for work. I've not used it myself but I know others have and found it useful. It may be helpful for you.

https://www.scope.org.uk/employment-services/

JaneC_

Hi Laura, welcome to the community and sorry to hear you’re having such difficulties, it sounds very stressful. I hope the SCOPE employment services @Sandy_123 mention helps and you have some support for your mental health.

We are a friendly bunch and always willing to help. 

Me and others like us with dyslexia have many strengths and creativity is one of them. It’s great you’ve got a creative degree. It might be good to think about what strengths you have - the dyslexia association talk about these and your assessment should point yours out too. What are your interests? Having a degree means you do have skills too 😊.
I know it’s hard to identify them sometimes though. 

Also it might help to think about what help you got when doing your degree, which worked for you as these might help you in future work. 

Although you’ve had reasonable adjustments in past jobs there may be different ways to assist you that’s not been tried yet.  Or just a different type of work altogether. In addition to help from others, there are lots of tools and software to help these days I’m just discovering some more for myself. 

I too can’t manage full time work due a number of issues including pain so be gentle with yourself, small steps. 

Do ask any questions you have or just drop in for a chat about things. You might to look around other bits of the forum.  A few notable pages I’d recommend visiting would be:

• The virtual coffee lounge which is one of our categories, in which we play games and talk about general subjects such as hobbies and interests
• The recent discussions page, which shows an overview of everything happening across the community
• The categories page, which shows a full list of discussion groups on the community

Kind wishes 
Jane