{"id":1524,"date":"2021-11-18T11:33:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T11:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diversityproject.com\/international-day-persons-disabilities\/"},"modified":"2022-09-20T13:54:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T13:54:37","slug":"international-day-persons-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diversityproject.com\/2021-11-18\/international-day-persons-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"International Day of Persons with Disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"
In the lead up to the day, I have been reflecting on my experience of an invisible disability. To an outsider I look \u201cnormal\u201d, but my experience of the world is anything but.<\/p>\n
Growing up with a severe hearing impairment was tough – making friends was awkward, noisy classrooms were difficult to navigate and team sports were hard. Using headphones, watching tv, live music or even listening to the radio in the car could be overwhelming.<\/p>\n
In 2021, lip reading in a world of masks and sensory over-stimulation in hybrid working spaces are new challenges I\u2019m having to face.<\/p>\n
But tougher than all of that is having to make the invisible, visible. Every time I meet someone new, I have to introduce myself\u2026 and my disability. It can feel exhausting, emotional, and even embarrassing at times. In fact, sometimes I try to get away with not telling people for as long as possible (my university flatmates didn\u2019t know for 2 years!)<\/p>\n
When I started work, I had this exact fear set in \u2013 who do I tell, how do I tell them? Will they think I\u2019m a burden, will they think I\u2019m less capable, will I have access to less opportunities? Will they have the right support in place?<\/p>\n
Luckily my fears were quickly absolved when I joined St. James\u2019s Place who not only have an incredible support system in place through their recruitment and people teams, but also had a culture that made me feel safe. I wasn\u2019t scared about disclosing \u2013 in fact I felt empowered too. It felt as though suddenly my disability was seen as a strength \u2013 my \u2018abnormal\u2019 experience was one that could bring unique insight and perspective.<\/p>\n
There is still however, much more work to be done in our industry and beyond. This IDPWD I\u2019d love to see firms thinking about how they can create safe spaces for disclosure, put the systems in place to support, challenge perceptions, and celebrate difference.<\/p>\n