Post by Lαrα on Jun 12, 2014 5:55:57 GMT -8
I feel that as individuals with a disability we need to sometimes need to 'sell' ourselves and make certain that potential employers see and understands the qualities we hold that makes us serious applicants.
I have always considered that people especially with a Spinal Cord Injury display a determination and will that is evident and clear to see.
Dealing with how to get about with limited mobility, dealing with surgery...b and b issues..nerve pain and spasms ...and we are still able to smile, get on with life and still remain positive!
We not only have transferrable skills but we also have work skills in addition plus/or qualifications and experience.
Heck..if i was an employer i wouldnt want to hire me anyday of the week! lol
In the UK there is a skills shortage...and yet there are approximately 8 million employable adults with disability. There is a untapped resource of potential skills right there!
I would quite happily inform a company that employing me will be good for business! Lets be honest about this...If a company is seen to truly embrace diversity, it will be better thought of by the consumer so we make sense in relation to profits.
A consumer, i feel, will more prefer to support a company with their custom if they visibly see that they employ and support people with disability within the workplace.
Of course we dont want to be employed because of our disability BUT there no harm in this advantage being recognised! 
An important issue that we need to get over to employers is that we need to change the misconception that someone with a Spinal Cord Injury or any disability would take more absence due to ill health.
In fact this is a misconception..in 2010 a large Superstore within the UK was the focus for research with this question in mind and it was found that the employees with disability took less time off work and achieved higher production rates.
We just need to get this over to potential employers. I do wish governments would take this on board as an intitiative and seriously get this message accross.
If i had to i would write a supporting letting along with my CV to point out these facts but i wish they already were aware of them.
Whats your opinion guys?
Related threads:
Disability Discrimination at work
Employment after a Spinal Cord Injury
