Accommodation in the workplace (part 4)

Q: What's the best way to approach you if there are issues later on?

A: Let me know where I need to improve and if you have suggestions on how I can do a task better, rather than going back through my work and doing it over.  I like having a job coordinator as a support person because I realize you may have questions about the best way to resolve an issue and we can work with my coordinator for advice or ideas. Because I am the employee, though, I want to be involved in what choices are being made.  Don't leave me out of the issue! Bring it to my attention and then we can talk with my coordinator if we need to.  When we talk about it, I may need time to write out what I want to say so there isn't any confusion.

As an employee, you and the employer need to discuss concerns.  Don't be afraid to ask your coordinator for advice or to be present at the meeting. It helps knowing there's someone on your side, but be the one to explain the issue and your views on it. The coordinator can step in if something needs clarification. Think about using an agency that has experience matching people with jobs. Most offer support to the person and the company when it's needed. Some employees will benefit from daily support, others might need to check in once a month to see how things are going, especially if it's a company's first experience working with an employee with different challenges. The employer or employees might initially feel more comfortable being in touch with an agency.

Q: Are you willing to work at other company locations?

A: Absolutely. I can work wherever it would be helpful for you.

I realize not everyone can work at every location. The company may only be one location or a lot of stores.  If it has several stores, you could ask if there is a location closer to you where the manager is willing to hire you.  There are a lot of different ways to work.  You could even work at home.  It all depends on you, the company, and the tasks involved, as long as people are willing to be more flexible and creative.

To anyone who has a disability and who is looking for work or working: you can do it!  It will be hard at times but don't worry about it, do your best. It will help if you have people who love you, understand your goals, and can support you in whatever you decide. That's what I'm lucky enough to have and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Accommodation in the workplace (part 3)

Q: How long will it take you to finish the same tasks?

A: It all depends on what the task is and what's required to complete it.  Personally, working on webpages takes me a day and a half.  A Power Point presentation takes a few hours.  I want to take the time and do it right the first time.

Working with the home business in Bragg Creek, I realize that I need more time to finish tasks, so I like working on long-term projects where I have more time.  I know that working in an office where tasks need to be done quickly isn't the best fit for me.  It helps when your abilities match up with what you're interested in but it does not always work out that way.  Maybe you can arrange with your company to pick out a few tasks from the complete job description so other employees can focus on the other key responsibilities.

Q: How would you communicate with someone who is having trouble understanding you?

A: People usually need a few conversations with me before they start feeling comfortable with my style of communication. I like to know if someone is not able to understand what I'm saying instead of nodding along. When someone is having difficulty, I like to repeat the phrase a few times. Then I try and phrase it differently because it may be the words I'm using that are confusing. If they are still having trouble, I type it on the computer. I prefer to use email as my main method of communication at work because I can ask questions clearly and have a written reply.

When you know that you have difficulty with oral communication, have a plan to demonstrate in the job interview how well you can communicate in another manner. Chances are an employer might have worries about this topic, and you're taking the initiative to address those concerns and show you can work within their company.

Accommodation in the workplace (part 2)

 Q: We want to hire you but we don't have the time to train you.

A: I have had companies explain that they want to hire me but I don't have all the necessary job knowledge. Most people that are hired don’t have all the necessary job knowledge, such as university students.  Most people learn on the job.  My suggestion is to hire someone who can meet all the job expectations, and then hire me to help them out.  Every job breaks down into a variety of tasks and I can perform some of those, allowing the other person time to work on the more complex tasks. It is valuable to work under someone who can pass knowledge on.  In any job, I value learning a variety of skills while working.

If you have a disability, one alternative to the job interview is to ask for an information interview; most employees are willing to sit down with you and talk about their job and their company.  It's a great way to learn about their jobs, their qualifications, and what the company is like.  It also increases your awareness of how you can fit in and makes you more confident in any other interview because you get the practice.

Q: What are your salary expectations?

A: For me, I'm on AISH, which allows me to earn an additional, set amount of dollars per month. If I go over that amount, I lose some of my AISH funding. I wish I could earn the hourly wage but it's not possible right now.

What if the employer isn’t willing to pay a salary?  Then see you! I'm out of here.  Real jobs are for real pay. However, it might be a really great company and job that you still want to pursue. Consider asking about a trial period with the company. It may mean that you have to work harder to show someone you can do a job and without any pay.  It gives the company a chance to see your skills and you earn valuable job experience.  You don't want this period of time to be too long, but long enough that you can learn the job and they can see your performance and then make a decision about hiring you.  Don't sell yourself short: Your time and skills are valuable and you deserve credit for them.  Remember, if someone without a disability offered to work for free, he or she would receive a few strange looks.

Accommodation in the workplace (part 1)

If you have a disability, some companies tend to notice your limitations first. They might need more reminders or time to see what your strengths are.  A company might have concerns and could benefit from extra support when they hire someone with a disability.

In each of my work experiences, there were different issues to resolve.  Employers have asked me a variety of questions and have made comments over the years.  For example:

Q: How will you get around the office or store in your wheelchair?

A: I can't always.  Sometimes there will be places I can't access but I can work with those limitations.  For instance, at the bookstore, I couldn't get up to the top floor to shelve the books, but I could still check them against the inventory so someone else had one less step to do.

At my last job, I needed to use the back door to enter and leave. The front door had a step going up but I was okay taking the back door.  It would be nice if every building was accessible but I realize that those improvements are expensive.  My office needed to make arrangements about the best location for me to work.  

Consider re-arranging the existing company layout to make it more spacious and accessible.  Not only will any employee with a mobility issue benefit, but the company will also look more attractive to clients or customers with disabilities.

Q: Do you expect any problems getting to and from work on time?

A: I would like to say no but I use Access Calgary to get around.  If the hours are 9am to 4pm, I can book a ride to arrive at 8:45am and leave at 4:15pm. The difficulty is that they have a twenty-minute window and are greatly affected by bad weather and traffic.  It can mean that I need to adjust my timesheet depending on what time I arrive and leave.  It will work well if you're willing to be flexible about that.