First let’s face facts disability shows no discrimination. It does not matter who you are , what race, gender you are when a disability strikes it does not care who it strikes. There is another type of discrimination that us with disabilities face and that is equal opportunity employment. Have you ever ran into an employer that says they are an equal opportunity employer but you find out later they are not? You are not alone.
I find it sad that discrimination is a part of our society and that we who live with a disability seldom get looked at. Its getting more recognized, however there are still employers who say they are for equal employment but are not actually. I know this from personal experience.
I am a intelligent, educated person with a bachelor’s of science degree in healthcare administration along with a pca license. While in college I took medical coding as alternative backup. After my college was over, I went to my local hospital for an interview for a healthcare administration position. I was the only one with a degree in that field and was turned away. All because my cerebral palsy shows physically. Its a crying shame that I went to college for 6 years just to get turn down. Why did not I go after the hospital and hold them accountable, because I thought Ill go take my coding exam and be able to get on as a medical coder and unfortunately that road was a dead end as well. I got tired of being rejected so I decided it was not worth it and stayed living on my current income.
Have you ever had experiences like this one? We with a disability are covered or protected by the equal employment opportunity act but sadly we still get rejected. I’ve learned one thing a lot of us just want to be treated like other abled-bodied individuals, but we are looked at differently. Lets look at this EEOA. (equal employment opportunity act)
We with a disability are covered under the ADA at having an equal employment opportunity regardless at the fact we have a disability, physical or mental. We are to be given a fair chance at employment with being able to ask for reasonable accommodations. Its also interesting in our reference article that not every one is covered under the law and that certain protocols must be met in order for one with a disability to be covered. https://www.eeoc.gov/disability-discrimination An example in my situation is I asked for a reasonable accommodation if I could bring my own standard keyboard as I don’t and can not type on the split keyboards they use today, because, I type one-handed and have different main keys that everyone else. I was turned away.
If you are every put in this type of position fight for what you believe because, you have earned the right to work just as everyone else. It is nobodies fault that you may have been born or stricken with a disability. By out waying the pros and cons our your situation do what is best for you. If you have a goal and a dream follow it don’t give up, rather, advocate for yourself.
the truth of the matter in my opinion is we with disabilities should not be put on the back burner so to speak, We should be able to go to work in our degrees and not be ridiculed for the way we are. Never give up. Happy reading everyone!
Living w/ cerebral palsy 