So, when it comes to the normal workplace, lots of people are unknowingly enabling a concept called ableism. When we do not optimise the workplace for people with disabilities, we create a barrier that prevents disabled individuals from seeking gainful employment or entering high-level positions, even if they are qualified and capable for the job at hand. This problem presents itself even before recruitment is completed in the form of job interviews that cannot be accessed by people with disabilities. If the interview for a job, for example, takes place at the top of a three story building which does not have any form of lift or elevator, then how does a disabled person access it?
For this reason, it’s very important that we try and take active steps to combat ableism in the workplace. There are definitely a few things that can be done to try and prevent this from occurring, and they all make meaningful differences to the lives of people who struggle with disabilities every day.
For example, a lot of people collect data regarding ableism in the workplace. How many opportunities are not accessible for people with disabilities? What are the leading causes of roadblocks to people with disabilities gaining jobs with the company? What are the key targets for a proper accessibility policy? By collecting this information, it’s possible to make a proper judgement about what’s going on and take the best course of action.
Another great thing that people do is to try and combat the rise of inclusivity in the workplace is to speak to disabled people and get their insights. There is nobody better equipped to provide a comprehensive analysis of how to make a workplace more disability friendly than people who have a disability. Those people who have mobility issues are specifically a great choice because they can highlight areas where you could improve.
As disability support workers Gold Coast, we hear a lot of stories about people who aren’t being inclusive in the workplace. They’re not making an effort to include everybody, and this leads to major problems later on. There are so many businesses that are missing out on inclusivity and this means they’re not getting access to some incredible talent. There are a lot of disabled people who would be a great choice for a lot of different roles, but most people will never know because they’re not prepared to take the chance on them.
We can only hope that more steps are taken to provide opportunities for disabled people in the workplace. It’s definitely an ongoing problem, and we have to work closely with people who have disabilities in order to overcome it. Their insights will help us to make the best decision moving forward. After all, you can’t affect any kind of change, unless you actively consult with the people who will benefit from that change, because they will know what they want to see.