Fit For Work

Disabilities in the workplace

Amazing things like miracles do happen I think of a friend's son. His parents thought he was disobedient, stubborn and deliberate say that for instance as he was walking away just ignored when you called him but only later on when he was three they realised he could never hear a thing. They could help him with a cochlea implant which made a terrific difference his recovery seeming wondrous and he was able to attend normal schools and progress well.

A person like that must be incredibly intelligent to adapt to such an altogether “new” world. School, kids and other people and things in general. And in effect having “lost” on such critical forming years. It would take great courage. Can you imagine how intelligent he must be?

It must be terrible being deaf or hard of hearing I think you must be emotionally cut off. Must feel like you're isolated and in your own world. And extremely frustrated. And now you are still the same being discriminated as ever with employment and because employers want people with visible disabilities and obviously so for the quotas. More just for the show.

Medical intervention

I've known hard of hearing and deaf people and at work as well, they don't like it to be made fun of especially how some speak one must be extra sensitive. I had girl friends there at sign language studies as part of the linguistics department, hard working, very kind and understanding. They were very good to me. My own voice is a bit deep the hard of hearing battle with that and I forget the company sometimes. I also know wheelchair users and blind people and some friends each with his own difficulties and problems. Everyone has a contribution.

These days we can cope much better but it still takes great effort competing at such disadvantage and on par. Someone with a disability just wants to be treated like any other person. Sadly even today many people have to hide it. They can now do a lot for people with medical intervention, for example in mental illness if you understand you have a problem and are willing to comply you would be surprised.

There are many disabilities and chronic illnesses that can be very successfully treated with modern medical science. Such as laser operations for eyesight, electronic hearing apparatus and machines such as electric wheelchairs. Society is lagging behind but many buildings now are physically accessible. Orthopaedics can correct skeletal problems. Also occupational therapy as well as other specialities can really help you.

Disabilities and attitudes

Some are easily recognised in public and at work and would thus include obvious visible disabilities including things like wheel chair users, also other impediments as physical bodily handicaps or deformities, poor eyesight blindness and others. Some behaviour too can be obvious
such as obsessive and compulsive rituals clearly irrational and that can be very debilitating.

On the other hand mostly not visible are such as hard of hearing and patients with mental illness who can have occasional odd public behaviour but for the most part you couldn't tell the difference. Usually acting then harmless rather and amusing I'd say. Apart from this everything appears quite normal no-one would know the better and it applies just as well to many chronic illnesses and like epilepsy and severe dyslexia or where symptoms of an illness that qualify as being “invisible”.

Mostly all would appear normal under treatment and why shouldn't it? Mental illness is harshly discriminated against, people and their families feel helpless and ashamed. However psychiatric patients can hold employment and can make a valuable contribution to society. It is also true many of these people are very talented in one thing or another.

Discrimination and victimisation

In fact I am a person with a disability and I have social and mental difficulties with a serious mood disorder however they can help me a great deal with medicine to lead a normal life.

Women's and race equity quotas are satisfied and fairly too but disabilities' employment equity targets are apparently ignored as in unfair labour practice even as very obvious discrimination. Human rights transgressions are at the order of the day as it is seen as an “easy way out” trampling the person's dignity and basic rights.

In the end I was very badly treated by the university when it came out after four years. I know of people who typically had that kind of thing walking behind this deaf guy making remarks and jokes. All kinds of nasty things like pulling a chair from someone with very poor vision or blind or placing an obstacle in the way or getting a lecturer completely flustered for amusement or making remarks when he's writing on the board behind his back with great mirth. They're not there to learn.

Also you always have some ugly characters on the personnel with shocking general conduct they just get away with it, and enough slander and stupid cowardly bully tactics people making fun with practical jokes are apparently not even reprimanded.

Of course your work performance personality and popularity and  can become uncomfortable to some other colleagues and management it is usually quite standard and common practice to “Get Rrridd of him!!” sadly through just a few individuals' actions. It could be motivated by competition, envy and jealousy and feeling threatened. Forget about promotion.

Admittedly there are always well-meaning and very kind colleagues that don't know how to handle such a problem and want to help the person to cope. I feel the employer has some responsibility for just the basic skills. Firstly more general openness is in order.

Employment in practice

I have experienced myself always delivering a 100% workload and when it comes out now you have a problem it's a big issue even when everything and your performance is the same.  There are sacrifices involved on the disabled person's side as dedicating much of his personal life and as I, and did it gladly taking great pride in my work. It wasn't always so easy one of my biggest difficulties was the treatment by some individual colleagues and the university itself.

Irrespective there must be a price on both sides but you should be able to make a fair and equal contribution. Many people are able to work it is not a case of sympathy.

Generally there must be ways of accommodating people even with routine work earning some money and learning some skills gaining invaluable self-respect, obviously some people are better at some things than others, both parties stand to gain.

It is always good even simple work and chores for a bit of pocket money feels great and gives self-worth. This to the advantage of both parties I am not talking of charity. People with emotional and mental problems can actually often be gifted in some areas and can be profitably employed.

Fair and realistic compensation

However with time I found that complying with medical treatment I am able to work with diligence very effective profitably and academically far superior to many peers and offer a very significant contribution to my employer. In diverse areas of work there are many gifted people who can be very valuable.

Forced to leave even now 15 years later I have not received compensation. Not one cent. And I can assure you my work was always of the highest standards. I became used to outperforming people on their own terms, own turf and rules they don't like that.

The role of personnel and colleagues and taken into consideration the management and also formal conduct of the organisation itself proper compensation depends on the damage, taken into account the nature and magnitude of discrimination, malicious bad and unfair treatment. This can be taken very far as you cannot believe, simply as not only unfair labour practice but technically fraud, attempted constructive dismissal and extortion. It can be taken almost to the point of blatant breaking of the law and serious crime.