This commentary is by Natalie Sinkew, who lives in St. Albans.
As a disabled citizen, I would like to address the struggles we face finding a place in the workforce. We are not asking for a job just because we have a disability. We are asking for the same opportunity as everyone else to apply for a job and show what we can do.
The world is changing quickly. Technology, automation and artificial intelligence are becoming a bigger part of everyday life and the workplace. These changes can make life easier in many ways, but they can also take away some of the jobs that were once available to people with disabilities.
For example, office work used to include jobs such as filing papers, organizing documents, making copies and shredding paperwork. These jobs gave some people with disabilities an opportunity to work and contribute. Today, much of that work is done digitally or by machines. As technology changes the workplace, some jobs that people depended on are disappearing.
I understand we cannot stop the world from changing. I am asking that, as the world moves forward, we remember the people who may be left behind.
Many people with disabilities are able and willing to work. We may simply need accommodations to help us do our jobs. Some people may understand instructions better when they are shown with pictures or visual examples. Someone who uses a wheelchair or walker may need enough space to move safely. Someone who cannot stand for long periods may need to sit for part or all of their shift.
These accommodations may seem small, but they can make the difference between someone being able to work and not being able to work.
Unfortunately, accommodations are not always offered. Sometimes people with disabilities are denied job opportunities because an employer does not take the time to understand what they need or how a simple change could help them succeed. We are not asking employers to make our jobs easier.
We are asking employers to make our jobs accessible. There is a big difference.
As someone living with a disability, I feel there should be more opportunities for work-from-home jobs. For someone receiving support services to get to work, transportation can be affected if their staff is out for the day, sick or on vacation. For others, the opportunity to get to and from work can be affected if they can’t use public transportation as a backup. Working from home would help eliminate these issues.
We can work just as hard as anyone else. We may simply need different tools, different ways of doing things or reasonable accommodations. Having a disability does not mean that someone is lazy, unintelligent, unmotivated or unable to be a valuable employee.
There is also an emotional side to being repeatedly rejected for jobs. Imagine applying for job after job, hoping someone will finally give you a chance, only to keep hearing, “We found someone more qualified.” Imagine knowing you’re willing to work but feeling like employers focus more on what you can’t do, rather than on what you can.
After enough rejection, a person can lose confidence and begin to question whether they have a place in the workforce at all.
We need employers who are willing to look beyond a disability and see the person. We need workplaces that are willing to provide reasonable accommodations. We need opportunities that allow people with disabilities to use their skills and talents instead of assuming that a disability means someone cannot be a productive employee. Most importantly, we need to be part of the conversation about the future of work.
We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for equal opportunity.
Give us the tools we need. Give us reasonable accommodations. Give us the chance to learn, contribute and prove ourselves. Please do not decide what we are capable of before giving us the opportunity to show you.
All we are asking is that, as the world changes, there is still a place for us in it.
Progress should not be measured only by how much technology can do. It should also be measured by whether everyone still has a place in the future that technology is creating.
