Disability Discrimination
- 29 Aug 07, 6:33 PM
Discrimination is a putrid shade of yellow
It tastes like stale vomit
It smells like rancid fish
Discrimination reminds me of corruption, anger and despair
And sounds like a hooded coward running scared
Discrimination feels like nobody cares
Have you experienced disability discrimination? How does it make you feel?
Angry? Frustrated? Like you have hit a brick wall?
Have you ever missed out on a job, and felt that it was because of your disability?
Sometimes it is blatant e.g. withdrawal of a job offer after a medical even if your GP says you are fit for work. But at other times, even with the most equitable of employers, you live with the fact that you can never be sure.
Has an employer ever made assumptions about what you can and can鈥檛 do or blocked your staff development?
Have you ever been talked down to or patronised because of your disability?
Have you ever felt that you are not being taken seriously because of your disability?
Have you ever been denied a reasonable adjustment at work?
Have you ever been denied access to goods and services (including NHS treatment) that you are entitled to?
These are all everyday occurrences for many disabled people.
Tell me your horror stories.
But you can do something about it. Fight back. Become an expert in and find creative solutions to manage other people鈥檚 ignorance and inadequacies.
• Visit
Advice and support for overcoming discrimination at work for people with bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions
Comments
Where does discrimination end and a justifiable dislike of someone start? I recall being an outsider all the way through school and university before I found out that I have Aspergers.
Given that it's a 'social' disability, should they have treated me better? If they had, would I be even worse now than I am, or would I be more comfortable with who I am?
Now that I'm an adult, if people don't like my character attitude at, say, a job interview, is that discrimination because my disability impacts on my social interactions? I don't really know, I can see arguments both ways, but instinct tells me that they're justified - they have to have someone that will fit in with the other people in the workplace, don't they?
But then, is that a justification for excluding someone with, say, Tourette's, who could also make people in a workplace feel uncomfortable.
Physical, and I suspect some mental, disabilities are a little easier to find the lines for, but judging discrimination on something as pervasive and socially intrinsic as Aspergers isn't that clear.
"Now that I'm an adult, if people don't like my character attitude at, say, a job interview, is that discrimination because my disability impacts on my social interactions?"
I think in this case a reasonable adjustment would be to take this into account at interview. When applying for jobs, you could be honest and say that your disability impacts on your social interactions and please could they make a reasonable adjustment for this in your application. Any equitable employer should take this into account.
It would be discrimination for an employer not to employ you purely for any lack of social/communication skills due to Aspergers unless excellent communication skills were an essential part of the job.
There is no justification for excluding someone with Tourettes just because it makes people uncomfortable for the same reason.