The level of discussion on last nights SBS Insight program was disappointingly simplistic, which is frustrating because programs like these have a role to play in producing positive changes. Prue Hawkins acquitted herself admirably, but otherwise the dialogue was pretty much dominated by employers justifying why its hard for them to take on disabled employees - not helped much by some very leading questions from the presenter suggesting that many disabled people dont really want to work anyway. Im so tired of that old furphy being trotted out every time this subject comes up. Look, its true that there is a tiny minority of disabled people who would rather not work. The same is also true of red headed people... and left handers... and stamp collectors. But no one would dream of making such generalisations about them. What I really dont understand about last nights discussion was that no one made the point that disabled people - and I admit, Im speaking mostly about long term, physically impaired people here, because thats where my experience lies - are not only amongst the most motivated people around, but in fact have heaps of life skills that transfer well into marketable job skills. We are constantly problem solving in innovative and creative ways in order to find ways around obstacles that are in our path because of poor access. We have to be well organised and good at time management because accomplishing tasks can take longer for us and we would rather not waste our time and energy. And those of us with visible impairments generally develop amazing people skills, because we encounter stares and comments from others on a near daily basis, and we handle it all with an astonishing level of patience, grace, and good humour. So why do so many still people regard disability as nothing but a deficit, and have such a blinkered and unimaginative view of the potential of employing or working with ( or for! ) someone with a disability?
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 23:30:07 +0000
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