Physical Disabilities in the Workplace
" However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at." - Stephen Hawking
Cultural History/Background
Data
Positive Stereotypes
1918 – The Smith-Sears Veterans Rehabilitation Act became law
1954:The (American) Social Security Act of 1935 was amended
.1986 – The (American) Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act was passed
1995 – The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) became law in the U.S.=
1990 – The Americans with Disabilities Act became law!!
2013 – stopped being required to supply a “certification of job readiness” from a medical professional or rehabilitation specialist stating they could perform the job.
Texas
- Disability for 21-64 year old between all races
- Employment rate: 42.9%
- Working full-time/full-year 28.8 %
- full-time/ full-year median annual earnings $32,600
United States
- 2m blind or unable to see
- 7.6m hard of hearing
- 30.6m mobility difficulty
- 27m women have disabilities
- 17.6% of people with a disability were employed in 2013
- Arthritis is the leading disability with 41%
- Holy innocents endowed with a special grace to inspire others to value life
- Viewed as a Hero overcoming their disability
Data
Negative Stereotypes
Cultural Values
Employment/ Workplace
- Unemployment: 80% in some countries
- 386 million of the worlds working age people have some type of physical disability
- Monthly earnings of $1,961 compared with $2,724 with no disability
Leading Field
- Thousands of people with disabilities successful small business owners
-Disability Culture is the most diverse culture.
-Celebration of uniqueness of disability
-About visibility and self value
-Pursue goals, and shared goals
- Are not fully human
- They are ALL the same
- Always playing the Victim
- Look at disabled people
as helpless objects
Verbals and Nonverbal
Workplace Customs and Traditions
Communication Styles
Not everyone files for accommodation, but is still a common workplace tradition
Accommodation once employed:
Determine what duties of job the employee can do without accommodation
Hearing
- place yourself where the person can see you.
- Look directly at the person and speak clearly
- Be flexible.
- You can use a pad and pencil to communicate if it becomes necessary.
- Do not shout
Vision
- Do not presume that the person can’t see anything.
- When meeting, identify yourself and others with you.
- When conversing in a group address people by name.
- Address the person by their name
- Be specific with verbal directions to places
Most common tradition in the work place: Accommodation
Accommodation-
A convenient arrangement, a compromise, settlement to make sure all tasks can be accomplished without a barrier
Duty to Accommodate:
- obligation of an employer to eliminate disadvantages that affect the production of employees
Blindness:
- To start a conversation, touch the person lightly on the arm or address them by name.
Mobility Impairments
- Offer to help, (if it makes sense)
- Speak to a person who uses a wheelchair, cane, crutches in a normal voice strength and tone.
Second type of Accommodation: From co-workers or other employees
Examples:
- Picking something off the ground
- Opening the door
- Guiding them
All Others
- Speak directly to the person with the disability
- BE PATIENT
- Make instructions clear and brief
- Pay attention
Acceptable Language
Examples:
- Attendant services
- Adaptive technology
- Alternative media and reader services for employees who are blind
- Workspace/Furnishings
- Interpreters for deaf and hearing-impaired employees
- quiet workspace
- flexible work arrangements
- breaks
Speech
- Talk in a quiet environment if possible.
- Don’t be afraid to ask the person to repeat themselves
- Don’t pretend you have understood if you haven’t
- Be patient and don’t take over the conversation because you are afraid you won’t understand the person speaking.
"My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn't prevent you doing well, and don't regret the things it interferes with. Don't be disabled in spirit, as well as physically." - Stephen Hawking on disability
"First of all, I'm no better than the next person." - Stevie Wonder