I Have A Disability: 5 Things School Never Taught Me About Getting a Job

Let’s be real, teachers have a lot on their plate. With so many syllabus dot points to get through, a lot of important stuff can get missed. Your teachers probably didn’t run you through things like taxes or mortgages, so there’s a pretty low chance you were ever taught about the important stuff when it comes to finding work when you’re a person with a disability. Luckily, we’ve got your back.

1. Your value

Let’s start by stating what should be the obvious, but unfortunately isn’t always the case. People with a disability have just as much value as employees who don’t live with a disability. Whether you’re living with a mental health condition or have a physical disability, don’t let any businesses tell you you’re not worth their time.

2. Who can help you

There are a range of disability employment services in Australia that you should check out. They can help you get ready for work, find the right job, organise paperwork or assist with any modifications to your workplace. They can also provide support to you and your employer once you've started a job. They basically make sure you don’t have to go it alone, because sometimes job hunting when you have a disability can be tough. It’s always good to have people on your side!

3. How to talk to bosses about flexibility

When you land a job, it can often be hard to talk to your boss about things like flexible conditions and adjustments you might need to be able to get all of your work done (both effectively and safely). It’s important to be confident and calm when talking to the big guys, and explain your case. If you’re asking for things like flexible hours or working from home, explain how that will help you do your job to the best of your ability. Also make sure you always bring it back to how you’ll be meeting the job requirements.

4. The law

A person with a disability has a right to the same opportunities as a person without a disability and that’s the law. The Disability Discrimination Act is pretty solid and if you can do what the job requires, then you should have as much chance as anyone else landing it. On top of this, an employer may need to make some changes to the workplace to make sure you can do your best (like making adjustments to the physical workplace or providing specialised equipment). There’s a heap more info about this on the Aus Human Rights Commission site, and it’s definitely worth getting your head around if you’re heading into the working world.

5. What to do if you’re discriminated against

Even though we have laws like the Disability Discrimination Act, we don’t live in a perfect world so it’s important to know what to do if you feel like you’re being discriminated against. Your first step is clueing up on the law and figuring out whether an employer has done something discriminatory or illegal. If they have, try talking about it to a supervisor or manager. But, if you don’t feel 100% comfortable doing this (especially if they’re involved) then you can make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission. You can also have someone such as a solicitor, advocate or trade union make a complaint on your behalf.