Leveling The Playing Field: Give Those With Disabilities A Chance to Participate in the Workforce - May 27/24

​Everybody has things that don't work for them at work. A rotten desk chair, a poor monitor, not enough time off, too much to do with too little time. Everyone is under pressure to perform. 

What If you had a barrier in front of you that was stopping you from doing your duties, or making it unreasonably hard? Would you report and resolve it with your manager, or would you try to suck it up and try to let it go? 

Chances are, if it were as simple as a new monitor for your computer or a new chair to save your back, you might be served well by speaking up and speaking out. But what if your disability was literally invisible. How would you deal with a situation at work that had to be addressed in order for you to complete the core competencies of the tasks you are performing for you regular day?

How people handle themselves and their disability is a very private matter. Disclosing your disability to ANYBODY is a big ask. But what affect does disclosing have on the security of your position. Will your employer comply with your request, or will your request get lost and eventually unheard. A 2023 report conducted by the Nova Scotia government puts things in a somewhat scary light. 

The report uncovered numbers that were, shall we say, startling? 

In a glance, the report said:

 The most common barriers are experienced in:
-the built environment
-employment
-stigma and negative attitudes on disability

Perhaps the most damaging of these three items is the stigma and negative attitudes on disability. I have personally experienced negative attitudes towards disabilities at numerous employers. The survey revealed that:

47% have experienced discrimination in the past two years
42% have asked for employment supports or accommodations at work

Of these-

-One third (32%) did not receive any supports
-One quarter (25%) received some of the supports
-Four in ten (42%) received all of the supports

As the numbers point out, over 50 percent of individuals who asked for accommodations received none. Given that most people spend upwards of 50 hours per week at work, one would only think to believe that employers would want their employees to be comfortable and productive. These numbers are unacceptable. 

Those surveyed showed that 97% of the population is aware that disabilities can be invisible. And a clear 52% are aware of Nova Scotia's goal to be accessible by 2030. And 72% of Nova Scotians say that having barrier free workplaces is very important to them. But what of the other 28% who were not aware of Nova Scotia's goal to be barrier free by 2030? How do we bring those not in the know onside with early adapters in the workplace? 

The survey says that 26% of workers interacted with individuals on a daily basis. 

On a scale of one through ten, with one being the lowest and ten being the highest, those surveyed gave Nova Scotia a six out of ten score when it comes to enforcing accessibility in the workplace. This is not an acceptable number. The people of Nova Scotia deserve equality in the workplace NOW. What have your experiences been? Send your story to [email protected] if you would like to share your experiences with the community.