In addition to your weaknesses, you should also address issues relating to your disability. You need to examine your disability and the way in which it may manifest itself in your job search. You may find that the disability has no impact at all on your choice of career. In fact, many people with disabilities have been employed for years, and their supervisors and coworkers have absolutely no idea at all that they have a disability. In other cases, a disability will require some accommodations. (For a more in-depth discussion about workplace accommodations, see Chapter 13.) For example, a person with diabetes may need to follow a more rigid eating schedule to facilitate the maintenance of their blood sugar levels. In other cases, a disability may require some direct modifications to the workplace (such as the width of doorways or the height of a drafting table) or the way that tasks are accomplished (such as voice-recognition software to aid data entry and word processing).
By considering the ways in which your disability may affect your work, you can anticipate potential questions in a job interview. This will give you the opportunity to fashion your responses in a way that will impress the employer with your preparation and your self-understanding. It may also help to put the employer at ease with the thought of hiring a person with a disability. The following is a list of disabilities or disability-related circumstances and potential ways they can impact your work or your employer. Keep in mind that whether they actually do affect your work is beside the point. In addition to the challenge of overcoming ways in which your disability does impact your life, you must also deal with the misperceptions of how it might affect your life.
- AIDS/HIV Regular medication regimen Contiguousness/risk to coworkers Potential for extended sick leaves
- Using assistive devices (braces, cane, wheelchair) Stationary-can't get around to do what needs to be done Exorbitant workplace modification costs Slowness
- Asperger's Syndrome Impaired nonverbal communication Difficulty in adapting to change
- Asthma Allergies to workplace Stamina
- Attention deficit disorder Difficulty in paying attention to detail Need to modify workplace to provide distraction-free environment
- Cerebral palsy Difficulty in interpreting speech Assistive technology costs Workplace modifications
- Chemical sensitivity Workplace modifications Change in cleaning contract Change in ventilation system Guidelines regarding coworkers' use of soaps, lotions, and fragrances
- Chronic fatigue syndrome Alterations to standard schedule Extended use of sick time
- Chronic illness Extended use of sick time Contiguousness Regular medication regimen Alterations to standard schedule
- Depth perception Safety issues on plant floor
- Issues regarding transportation or operating equipment (forklift, automobile, etc.)
- Diabetes Regular medication regimen Alterations to standard schedule
- Disfigurement Impact on coworkers, customers
- Hearing Use of volume-control handset on telephone Use of TTY at workspace and elsewhere Modification of loudspeaker system Installation of visual safety alarms
- Learning disability Enabling spell-checking software on word processor, modifying other software to include spell-checking Installing assistive technology, scanner/reader, speech card in computer Submitting directions in written form if the employee has a cognitive processing difficulty Leniency on time requirements for duties that require a great deal of reading
- Missing digit Workplace safety issues Modified keyboard or other equipment
- Missing limb Workplace safety issues Equipment modification Impact on coworkers, customers
- Psychological/emotional Regular medication regimen Potential for extended leave
- Speech Use of e-mail for most communication Impact on coworkers, customers
- Tourette's syndrome Impact on coworkers, customers
- Traumatic brain injury Need for directions to be given in written form Impact on coworkers, customers
- Vision Use of guide dog Use of screen-reading program with speech card Printing memos and other material in alternative formats, such as large print or Braille Audible signals in elevator Workplace modifications
In addition to the above possible issues, most disabilities that are visible or have visible effects will require training to educate coworkers. Many disability-related organizations have published materials to help people understand disabilities, including recommended etiquette for interacting with a person who has a disability.
You should also make a list of the issues you may need to address regarding your disability and possible accommodations you may need. It may be helpful to speak with a rehabilitation counselor or one of the people at the Job Accommodation Network, and check your assumptions against their experience. They may even have suggestions for how you might address these issues. (There is more information about the Job Accommodation Network in Chapter 13.)
When you have finished this section, move on to the next section, an assessment of your traits and characteristics.