April 12, 2022
If you’re looking to find your ideal career path, then it’s important to be able to honestly assess and work with the specific challenges that you’re likely to face. There’s no denying that people with a disability can experience more challenges than most when it comes to having more control over and thriving in their careers, but this doesn’t mean it's impossible. Knowing the resources and assets available to you can be a great help.
Unfortunately, as many people who live with an injury, chronic condition, or disability know, one of the major barriers in any workplace can be those people who are willing to discriminate, either interpersonally, or as a means of preventing employment and advancement in the workplace. The Disability Discrimination Act makes this unlawful, but it does still happen, and standing against it is important. Get to know your workers’ rights, including your rights as a disabled worker. It’s important to know you’re protected against discrimination, be it in terms of getting a job, getting promotions, receiving training, or being dismissed. Taking notes or records of when you think you have faced discrimination and collecting evidence can help you make a claim against an employer if you think this has happened to you.
If your disability puts up some barriers, be they vocational or non-vocational, then learning how to address and work around them can be a huge help. However, the effort to do this shouldn’t be on you alone. With the help of job assist services, you can get the help you need in improving your capacity for work by collaborating with professionals and with your employer. With the help of a career and workplace consultant, you can find job-seeking education, job placements, career advice, and employer networking assistance. This can make it easier for you to get your foot in the door, metaphorically speaking, and to get help with the vocational and other training that can make you a valuable asset to the teams you work in.
You may have your mind set on a certain career, but if you’re looking for professional experience or a pathway ahead, it’s a good idea to think about which career path you really want. If you have certain limitations in the job functions you can perform, these have to be taken into account, whether they affect your ability in social capacities, speech, physical abilities, or otherwise. There are careers that you can flourish in, it’s often simply about finding the best fit for you. It’s not just about your physical capabilities, but about how you feel about the prospect of the work, as your mental well-being is vital, too.
The tips above are just the beginning. To advance your career as best as possible, then you should work with the right professionals who can help you find the answers specific to your own challenges and needs. Hopefully, these tips can help point you in the right direction, all the same.
