Why is it so hard to get a job if you’re disabled?

"Disabled people want to work"

Anne Hayes

Anne Hayes, 26, is a freelance writer. She loves animals, and writing books, poetry and articles which she hopes are thought provoking...!

The Mix: We’re super grateful that Anne has decided to share her talents with us by writing about the lack of job opportunities for disabled people. Read on to find out more. 

I have a degree, LAMDA Teachers’ Diploma and a lifetime working with animals on the family farm. I also happen to have Tracheo Oesophageal Fistula, Tracheo Atresia, Varter’s Syndrome and mild Cerebral Palsy. Sadly everything that I’ve accomplished isn’t enough to cancel out my health problems, or qualify me for a job.

The Job Centre match me with unsuitable jobs

If you’ve ever wondered ‘Why is it so hard to get a job as a disabled person?’ I’m about to crack the case wide open for you. 

Despite being unable to work for the most part, I am still facing benefit cuts. I say ‘mostly’ because there are some jobs I could do. Generally speaking, I don’t really see myself as disabled or let my disabilities interfere with my life. But when I go to the Job Centre, they always try and match me with jobs for disabled people. The thing is they think I should be able to manage having desk jobs and the like. But the reality is I can’t, due to some aspect of my condition that they haven’t considered, like my horrendous migraines. It really sucks that they think every disability manifests itself in the same way. 

Sure you can check out job boards and sites, go to networking events and get some sort of work experience but that won’t really do much to increase your chances. The sad reality is that once people find out you’re disabled during the job search process, most of the time they automatically write you off. No matter how much skill and experience you have.

Losing out on job opportunities because I’m disabled

It’s ironic that cerebral palsy, the part of my condition which is immediately noticeable, is actually the one that affects me least. Other than when I’m trying to get a job, of course. Unfortunately, the obvious nature of the disability means I often fail at the interview stage. For instance at uni, I went for a job interview as a farm relief worker and was disappointed when it was given to a person without disabilities that had less experience than me. 

Similarly, recently I was searching for a job and applied for a job in a care home only to be rejected. And that with me having the experience of being a full time carer to my grandfather until he died. It’s not only the rejection though. The patronising things people say infuriate me. A friend of mine in a wheelchair applied for a job as a chef and was told that ‘you’d have to be able to cook on your own’. As if he didn’t already know that. 

Jobs are offered disproportionately to people who fit the mould of an ideal worker. For instance, they never get sick, are young and male etc. These characteristics often prioritised over whether they’re the best person for the job position. Instead, hiring managers need to look at cover letters and conduct interviews with the goal of getting the best candidate for the role. Even if that means making a few accommodations down the road.

I guess I should count myself lucky, though; at least people can see that I’m disabled. For friends of mine with mental health issues, the situation is worse. Their disabilities are unseen. Event hough they have every right to be on benefits or in part time work, they still constantly get asked why.

Doing humiliating tests to prove I’m eligible for benefits

Because I can’t get a job, I’m forced to take humiliating tests to prove I’m eligible for benefits. But the truth is, health is not a box ticking exercise. When I am well, yes, I’ll put my all into working. And when I am not, I can barely get out of bed and have to reluctantly rely on my patient and loving fiancé. It’s not a black and white situation. There should be more recognition by those with power over these assessments that life is all shades of grey, particularly for the disabled.

The government should consider the difficulties of those that live with the disabilities listed in the forms. People with depression get more depressed at the thought of having to cope with these forms and deadlines, those with anxiety disorders get more anxious. Heck I panic about them, and I only have moderate depression.

Workplaces are not properly adapted for disabled people

I’m gonna be real, it’s a frightening and worrying time for people like me. We have to live with the fact that we may lose our benefits. In which case we would have to go back to being dependent on our parents. There are supposed to be reasonable adaptations in the workplace to give everyone access to work. Yet it seems like those are nothing but words on a paper. I admit, in my case, it would be very hard to have a toilet adjoining the room where I was working, but I can’t change what I need. 

Luckily, I’ve recently had two books accepted for publication. I’ve emailed the publishers, and spoken to them on the phone. I’m even meeting one in person to discuss edits next month. I do wonder what the reception will be when I walk in through the door though. Will my disability eclipse all the good things they thought about me, will I be ranked not as ‘author’, but ‘disabled author’? Hopefully not. But those are just some of the reasons why it’s so hard to get a job as a disabled person.

A final message from The Mix: For more information about jobs for disabled people and disability in the workplace, read this. Check out the rest of our support articles for getting a job here.