To want to understand how disabled MNers manage to be employed?

[JobhuntingDespair]

With the proposed benefit cuts, I'm interested in the reasons why those who could work struggle to find suitable employment, so would like to know how people have managed it. (I'm currently job hunting myself, having to take into account autism and keeping mental health reasonable, so I am facing some of these issues.)

So if you're unwell/disabled and in employment (or know someone who this applies to) I have some questions...

1. What sort of role are you in, and is this influenced by disability? (Eg. physical disability so avoid manual work.)

2. What sort of reasonable adjustments do you find the most helpful? And how easy was it to get these?

3. Were you disabled when you became employed, or later so had already proved your worth to employer?

4. If you were already disabled, what led up to your current role - eg. did you have to get qualifications? Experience elsewhere? And how did you financially support yourself during this time?

5. How did you manage to pass the probationary period or avoid being managed out for performance/time off sick?

6. Do you have large CV gaps due to your disability, and if so how have you explained/managed these?

7. How did you convince an employer to give you a chance, to get a foot in the door of a suitable job?
   (I'm thinking in particular of experience (and references). Starting in any old job as a first step toward something better may not be possible for a disabled person as the "any old jobs" available are unsuitable due to their disability. Is there a way to leap-frog past this stage?)

Anything else you think is relevant please explain!

You are completely making up what I am thinking despite me explaining my position and experience on this subject. And then acting offended at your imaginary version of my thoughts. Weird.

I absolutely do not think everyone who has a disability/illness can work. I have literally explained my own experience of being unable to. And one thing this thread is sadly highlighting so far is that being in a decent job before disability becomes an issue at work seems to be prevalent in terms of working in a suitable role. As oppose to those who have to somehow claw their way to something suitable, from unemployment, which seems to be what the government expect us to do.

I'm autistic and really interested in social issues. Of course I'm interested in anecdata as I sadly cannot collect real data, and even more regrettfully cannot use that to actually help people (instead of the government's current plan to simply cut off benefits and push people into dire situations).

I think my autism actually helps me as I’m so adept at masking, I can adapt my persona to match the person that I’m dealing with to build a quick rapport! I find the public sector to be very good at supporting people.

I’d say my work/ needs balance is good but my work/ life balance could be better. I am tired after work and my housework suffers. I’m not one of those people who can just throw on a washing load during my WFH days, I’m focussed on one thing or the other.

Actually, ideally I’d work 4 days a week to have one day for housework then the weekend to relax.

I have stage IV endometriosis and have had severe chronic daily, almost constant, pain since my teens. Currently on a large dose of morphine daily to function along with a host of other meds. I am phenomenally lucky to have been able to have a child.

1. What sort of role are you in, and is this influenced by disability? (Eg. physical disability so avoid manual work.)

I'm in a role that involves talking to people and sitting down most of the time. No, it's not influenced. I'm in pain whether I'm sitting or standing or moving or not.

1. What sort of reasonable adjustments do you find the most helpful? And how easy was it to get these?

For me it's just being able to manage my workload throughout the week so if it doesn't matter when a task is done I can do it at a time that's best. I get a lot of pain later on in the day and first thing so being able to do more admin type work at that time when it doesn't matter if I'm squirming or wincing or drowsy is helpful.

1. Were you disabled when you became employed, or later so had already proved your worth to employer?

I was already disabled but never disclosed it as I never wanted any kind of pity or special extra considerations due to it. I would have hated to have had a mandatory interview cos of my disability.

1. If you were already disabled, what led up to your current role - eg. did you have to get qualifications? Experience elsewhere? And how did you financially support yourself during this time?

I worked relentlessly. I've worked nonstop since 14. I have never had the privilege of accessing benefits, or having anyone else support me, so it was work or be homeless and starve. So I have always worked.

1. How did you manage to pass the probationary period or avoid being managed out for performance/time off sick?

Luckily in my current role I have had my pain managed since being employed, prior to this I very much nearly lost jobs due to it, at one point went bankrupt in early twenties as I had no benefits and I ran out of sick pay.

1. Do you have large CV gaps due to your disability, and if so how have you explained/managed these?

No gaps.

1. How did you convince an employer to give you a chance, to get a foot in the door of a suitable job?

I didn't need to.

1. (I'm thinking in particular of experience (and references). Starting in any old job as a first step toward something better may not be possible for a disabled person as the "any old jobs" available are unsuitable due to their disability. Is there a way to leap-frog past this stage?)

Anything else you think is relevant please explain!

Despite the bankruptcy and how difficult life was when my pain was unmanaged and I had no choice but to work, looking back I'm very glad I had to keep working, even struggling to hold onto jobs sometimes, rather than writing myself off on the scrap heap and giving up. It has given me so much confidence and self esteem knowing what I'm capable of despite this horrible disease.

I was diagnosed with my musculoskeletal condition 13 years ago. I’m a teacher - had been for 12 years before diagnosis and still am. Have annual OH assessments for work. Supposed to have reasonable adjustments made but anyone who works in a schools knows what is supposed to happen doesn’t actually work in practice e.g. OH recommends I don’t stand for longer than 20 minutes but we all have to do one half an hour duty a week. I’m supposed to avoid being knocked or pushed but impossible at lesson changeover moving from one classroom to another. I do have a lift key though and what is good for me is that I have a higher threshold for absence before a warning.

I’m not sure if I can teach til I’m 67 but we’ll see. I pay for monthly osteo appointments and do daily physio so I consider myself quite healthy at the moment. I have noticed a decline since menopause though. Even with my condition I was still able to run but since my last period of chronic pain (18 months ago), I have had to give that up.

I need to work though - my mental health would decline if I didn’t. And I say that although I do a bloody stressful job!

I'm not disabled but DH has a chronic physical health condition that would qualify him for PIP and blue badge (doesn't take either) and works FT in a senior role in a tech type sector (which also employs many neurodiverse people).

BUT he is not typical and you can't generalise about disability. The late chairman of my old company (global multi-billion dollar world famous business) was left paraplegic after a skiing accident and worked for years afterwards. I could cite him as a great example of overcoming your disability to work full time but he was a multi-millionaire 'name' with access to the best care, assistance and medical support money can buy.

You can't just say 'disabled people can work' - what is the nature of the disability? What is the work? What is the support? What is the family and home situation? It's expensive to get (those that are able) into work and requires a lot of resource.

I have a physical disability plus some more which came on with age. My tip is to look for large employers who are more likely to HR and OH health to keep managers in line. Or ones who participate in "back to work" schemes. Small businesses can be great, but more often can't afford to be as flexible or generous with support sadly.

Sick leave is no issue, anything disability related doesn't count for attendance targets anywherei have worked. You need to develop an expertise or experience in something you can do regardless of your disability. And age will count against you, so stay employed or get back to work now, as you'll never get any younger.

I have adhd which is currently unmedicated. And a number of other ongoing health issues. I work FT in a senior leadership role. It helps that I'm "the boss" because I can shape things around my needs to some extent. Many of my team have disabilities to varying degrees - physical disabilities, long term mental health issues, neurodivergence etc. And some who don't have disabilities themselves have caring responsibilities etc. We all have our own unique needs and lives outside of work etc.

I'm pretty flexible as an employer. My bottom line is that someone needs to be able to do the job, but I am more than happy to make adjustments/buy equipment/work flexibly etc if that is what the person needs to do the job effectively.

@JobhuntingDespair I have a chronic health condition which I was diagnosed with as a teenager. I’ve always worked part time, currently 21hrs a week, working predominantly from home. I work in the charity sector which is usually more flexible but obviously doesn’t pay as much as private. I have flexible hours so start later than most and my work is mainly computer based. my health has significantly impacted my ability to progress in my career and that’s something I’ve had to come to terms with. Competency and experience wise I could be much further ahead on the career ladder but I have to be realistic about what is sustainable.

By getting the balance right I’ve managed to avoid excessive amounts of time off. I was signed off for a couple of months a couple of years ago but this was tied in with excessive work stress and a voluntary redundancy so my cv gap isn’t actually that long. I don’t claim any benefits as my DH works full time.

I do have a degree but this is unrelated to my field of work. I don’t have any specific qualifications but Ive gained experience through my working life.

@FKAT
You can't just say 'disabled people can work' - what is the nature of the disability? What is the work? What is the support? What is the family and home situation? It's expensive to get (those that are able) into work and requires a lot of resource.

Yes, that's what I've been trying to understand - what support and so on has led to people being able to work despite disability. Excellent point about family/home situation - having support at home, even someone to share chores and cooking with, makes a huge difference. The financial side too - working part time with a full time partner will be more manageable than trying to make ends meet living alone.

Oh yes, I absolutely wouldn't be able to do what I do if I didn't have DP here to cook, tidy up (or at least be constantly prompted to do those things as he's Autistic and does not see tasks, needs lists.. ugh), do the physical stuff.

Without him I'd live in the same clothes, not wash, stay upstairs most of the time (I can do my own stairs once or twice but not often and the accessible toilet is upstairs), and I'd just eat snacks once a day probably. Not a great nor a productive existence!

This thread has been interesting. It is great some many people have understanding employers.

I am waiting for a post from someone who has been out of work for years and years, no qualifications, and got an entry level role at middle age.

Dh now disabled after heart surgeries and high degree of heart failure. Used to working residential childcare but had to give it up. Now works in a call centre but full time hours proving to be too much,so now part time on advice of occupational health.

I have transient aphasia and chronic migraines. (Also T2 diabetes and MH issues, but currently they don’t really impact me).

the only reason I still work is that I’ve been fortunate enough to work in IT: so I can work from home and work part time flexibly, AND I’ve had supportive line managers who have stuck up for me wrt working from home and working part time flexible hours.

i have migraines 3-4 times a week for 2 weeks a month. The other 2 weeks tends to only be 1 or 2 migraines per week. Because I work from home, I can log off for a few hours and make the hours back later when I feel better later in the day.

the aphasia is awful though. I sometime babble, stutter, forget words, shout (because I’m trying to get words out). Earlier in the year I delivered training remotely to the entire company of 300 people over Teams (over several sessions). At the start of each session I briefly mention that I have speech issues which happen sporadically, and it’s nothing to be concerned about (nor is it a sign of being incompetent or nervous). Thankfully people tend to be understanding

Oh. I should have mentioned, I also have an amazing husband who does more than his fair share of the house stuff and child related stuff. We outsource a lot of stuff (cleaning, dog walking, ironing, gardening) and on the days that I’m well, I batch cook, so we always have healthy food in the freezer to easily cook.

i am aware that I’m very fortunate

That is another thing isnt it. You need some support outside of work.

I have bipolar disorder and EUPD. I wasn't diagnosed until 2023 but they think it was triggered in 2020.
I work part time. Luckily I've been with the same company for 13 years and they've been really good about me taking time off while my medication has been tweaked. I did however have to move areas as I'm in an operational role and my old role included heavy machinery which I'm not allowed to operate until I'm "stable on my medication" aka no episodes or medication changes for over a year. When I moved I went from full time to part time as it's shift work and part time offered regular hours rather than me being all over the place.
I highly doubt that if I lost my job anyone else would be willing to take me on with my sickness record though

I'm not disabled but I do have autism and can't cope with full-time work. Every attempt has led to severe burnout, several months off, and medication.

I run my own dog-walking and pet-sitting business part-time and have been doing that for just over five years now. I do around 5-6 hours per day and never work evenings or weekends unless by choice. DH has ADHD and also runs his own business. We don't have children and between us we manage fine.

Yes! And I had completely forgotten that: because I had taken it for granted. If I was a single parent or my husband wasn’t so hands on, or if I didn’t have a decent paid job that allowed the funds to outsource then it would be a different story.

1. What sort of role are you in, and is this influenced by disability? (Eg. physical disability so avoid manual work.) - Middle management type role. It's not influenced by my disability (neurodivergent) - quite a lot of it is out of my comfort zone but I've been working full time for 30 years so I have masking down to a fine art.
2. What sort of reasonable adjustments do you find the most helpful? And how easy was it to get these? Understanding from my manager that I may need some information presented in different ways or to have time to process things. I am lucky in that since my diagnosis I have had experienced and sympathetic managers,
3. Were you disabled when you became employed, or later so had already proved your worth to employer? I was, but I wasn't diagnosed until my 40s.
4. If you were already disabled, what led up to your current role - eg. did you have to get qualifications? Experience elsewhere? And how did you financially support yourself during this time? N/A
5. How did you manage to pass the probationary period or avoid being managed out for performance/time off sick? By the skin of my teeth, to be frank. I was horrendously bullied for the first year or so in work as I didn't get any of the unwritten rules or know how to interact and read the room, and it impacted my performance. I somehow hung in there and eventually learned how to cope and slowly began to climb the ladder.
6. Do you have large CV gaps due to your disability, and if so how have you explained/managed these? No, I have been working continuously since university.
7. How did you convince an employer to give you a chance, to get a foot in the door of a suitable job? I went in at the very bottom. My full time salary was about £6500 when I started work (no min wage back then) which was low even for the 1990s.

My close friend is blind. He works full time in some sort of public sector policy writing role.

he has screen readers for computer work, and a guide dog to help him get to the office when he needs to.

If you have autism, then you are disabled. The fact you have burnout and months off work is proof of that.

What do you do? Could I do this?

Maybe technically, but I don't consider myself disabled in any way.

I have a very small business with three employees plus myself. Two have accommodations for disabilities.

I needed no convincing to take them on, they were the best candidates for the job. I don’t want to be too specific, but all my employees have higher education and relevant qualifications and do further courses each year for professional development.

time off for appointments, child emergencies etc is given to all without using holiday, sick time, owed time.

adaptations include wheelchair access. Equipment and software to make documents accessible for someone with visual impairment. Lots of environmental care is taken that there are no trip hazards, plenty of space for a wheelchair, break facilities being completely accessible, things than most places should have anyway.

facilities to keep a service dog comfortable for the day.

we have an extremely flexible working arrangement, because disability is not linear and some weeks more accommodations are needed than others.

the only thing I wouldn’t have adapted is the need for the person I took on the be able to do the job, everything else we can work through.

in return, I have a lovely work environment with people who will always go the extra mile if they can, and have been with me for a really long time now, and will hopefully never leave!