Being Disabled Makes Me a Better Employee
‘Being disabled makes me a better employee’ should not feel like a bold statement, but it can when other people doubt you and your abilities based on the fact they know you have a disability.
Photo by okta reza fakhlevi on Unsplash: An Asian woman with a cropped hairstyle crouches and balances on a rock in a forest. She wears a black tunic top with horizontal stripes, trainers with brown laces that are slightly muddy, a mustard yellow scarf and glasses.
Not only do you have to manage your own disability and your strategies to adapt, but the addition of other people’s doubt makes the experience of learning a new job, which can be stressful for anyone, disability or not, even more difficult. The workplace can feel near impossible to navigate.
I am tired of explaining my disability in the workplace and seeing doubt in manager’s eyes, of being in the position of advocating for myself. I am tired because my brain is wired differently— I’m more than capable of doing the job, and doing it well.
My recent experience in the workplace involved the suggestion of my employee status changing to self-employment on my 6th day of employment. This was pitched as a reasonable adjustment to look out for my wellbeing, but reasonable adjustments do not involve switching your employee to self-employed where their wellbeing in the workplace is no longer your responsibility.
Whilst I thought this might be a good idea in my anxious state, I had not yet agreed to or been sent any contract terms. Two days later, I found out my position had already been advertised on the same day self-employment was suggested and likely not long after informing my manager I’d had a panic attack. If I’m being totally honest, this experience crushed my spirit a little.
But I feel it’s important to keep chipping away at your career goals even if your day-to-day might vary whilst managing a disability or illness, and even if faced with discrimination. As Maya Angelou said, “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”
I learned a lesson about resilience growing up with undiagnosed dyspraxia and not understanding why I fell in the playground more than the other kids, why trying to follow instructions in class felt like too many tabs open in my brain and why tying my shoelaces was a never-ending puzzle all the other kids could already do, until one day, I just could.
And at secondary school, the challenges seemed to intensify alongside all the highs and lows of being a teenager. I learned about failing in more ways than one. I also learned about persistence and hope. Persistence is key to everything, and cultivating hope when things have felt difficult has helped me enormously. It’s encouraged me to get creative with my ideas and use soul-crushing experiences as fuel for my ambition.
Why My Disability Makes Me A Better Employee
My determination to overcome obstacles strengthens the drive I have for my work. Determination is even a common trait of dyspraxic people because it’s a trait they have practiced their whole lives.
I am highly creative and think outside the box, a common trait of having dyspraxia, but also because being disabled doesn’t take away from my passion or grit.
I don’t take anything for granted.
Once I’ve learnt something, I’m ready to run with it. I really care about learning the job well so that in the long-term, I can exceed expectations. This improves my ability to notice details other people sometimes don’t, and it means my enthusiasm is second to none.
Empathy. I am extremely observant and the first to pick up on any team member who might be struggling. Being in tune with how others might be feeling means that I can offer to help and tasks can get completed as a team.
Like anyone with a disability, I have many strengths that can be fortified and an asset to any team.
For support regarding dyspraxia, The Dyspraxia Foundation is a great resource.
Written by Jess Burman