Finding a job can be a challenge for anyone, but people with disabilities face additional barriers in their search for employment. Physical and attitudinal barriers can make it difficult for them to access the same opportunities as everyone else. This article will look at the key barriers to employment, and ways that these can be overcome.
Employers’ attitudes or assumptions
Employers may have incorrect assumptions about disabled people and how they could perform in a certain role. This can lead to discrimination, which, although illegal, they often get away with during their selection process, by creating other reasons for not choosing someone with a disability.
Employers need to understand and follow the rules on discrimination as well as other disability laws that may apply, to ensure that disabled people have access to the same opportunities as non-disabled people. This can only happen if they change the way they think, to see what applicants can do, rather than what they can’t do. More training which educates them can be helpful, but so can the experience of working with a team of diverse colleagues. Some disabilities are unseen until specific situations, where they become more noticeable, which just shows that they have little or no impact on the applicant’s ability to carry out the job.
Facilities
Another barrier is, many buildings and facilities are not designed with the needs of disabled people in mind, making it difficult for them to access certain places. The employer might be understanding of how someone with a disability can do the job, but lacking in knowledge of how to create a more accessible environment for them.
Ramps and lifts can help people enter the place of work and get around the building, while assistive technology can help with certain tasks that they would otherwise be unable to do. However, this technology can be expensive, which can create another barrier to employment in today’s climate where many businesses are struggling financially. Yet, allowing people to work from home, where applicable, can get around this barrier and open up more opportunities for disabled people.

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Public transport
Public transportation is often not designed with the needs of disabled people in mind, making it difficult for them to get to work or job interviews. Yes, there are several spaces on buses for wheelchairs, but this is also designed for pushchairs and the elderly. If these spaces are already taken, someone in a wheelchair may have to wait. It’s also important to note not all disabilities are physical, and some mental health conditions make it challenging to travel alone on public transport.
The extra expense is another barrier to obtaining and keeping a job. Using taxis rather than buses or trains can cut into a sizable chunk of wages, making it harder to make a living.
Education and training opportunities
Education and training are important for finding a job, but disabled people may have limited access to these opportunities due to physical barriers or a lack of resources. Mentorships and internships are important ways for disabled people to gain experience and stand out in their chosen fields, but these opportunities can be hard to find and expensive to fund.
The extra challenges faced by disabled people looking for work can be addressed by employers educating themselves and their staff, looking objectively at how some people might navigate the workplace with a physical or mental limitation, and more services being funded such as public transport where disabled people can easily travel to work.