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Tag: working with a disability

  • Breaking it Down: Dialogues on Removing Barriers for People With Disabilities in the Workplace

    Breaking it Down: Dialogues on Removing Barriers for People With Disabilities in the Workplace

    The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS) invites post-secondary students and graduates with disabilities, career educators and representatives from federally regulated private sector employers to a one day innovative and interactive workshop “Breaking it Down (BID): Dialogues on removing barriers for people with disabilities in the workplace”, to be held in Regina, Saskatchewan on Friday, January 22, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the University of Regina, Main Campus, Room LI 215, 2nd Floor, Language Institute.

    Register online now: • https://secure.neads.ca/register/en.php?id=15SK

    The BID workshop is part of “Breaking Through Barriers”: An Employment Project To Support Persons With Disabilities, a national two–and-a-half year project funded by Labour Canada through its Workplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity program. The initiative is aimed at connecting recent graduates with disabilities and employers in the federally regulated sector, through in-person workshops and a unique web portal designed to create on-going relationships and resource sharing between disabled graduates and employers.

    For more information visit www.neads.ca

  • Working With Disabilities

    Working With Disabilities

    Approximately 4.2 million Canadians have disabilities, while 13% of those are working aged adults. Persons with disability are not so uncommon in the workplace. Not all disabilities are evident; someone may be hearing impaired and you will not be able to tell. Other may have trouble with their vision, movement or comprehension.

    No one but you and your doctor can tell you you are unable to do a job. Employers are often unaware that they can not express any doubt of your ability to fill a position or complete a task – to do so is considered discrimination. You know your strengths and weaknesses and it is up to you to communicate any weaknesses you may have if you need help. I, for example, have dyslexia and though many do not consider this to be a disability, it certainly can be difficult to deal with in the workplace. It causes me stress and I make mistakes that others wouldn’t make, such as superimposing numbers. Even something like this is important to inform your employer and co-workers about – creating an open dialogue is vital to both your success and the success of the company you work for.

    Do not tolerate any abuse or harassment from co-workers, your employer or even clients. Do not let anyone address you in any way you find insulting. Correct them to be sure it doesn’t happen again. If you are physically disabled, your employer is responsible to make any changes to the working environment in order to allow you to work safely. Make sure you know your rights.

    It is important not to treat a disabled co-worker any different from how you treat anyone else. Chances are they are not new to their disability and have mastered other ways of doing things that many even be more efficient than your own. It is likely a disabled person will tell you if they can’t do something or if they need help. Imagine how insulted you would be if someone insisted on helping you with something you could very well do on your own. Allow them to let you know their abilities and limitations.

    People with disabilities deserve to be treated with the same respect and given the same opportunities as those who do not have disabilities. Together we can make all Canadian workplaces a friendly environment for everyone!