When an issue arises you may wonder whether it is because you are
new, or because of your disability. You may wish to discuss this with your career advisor, disability employment officer, supervisor or a friend, or you may find that everything becomes clearer with time. Here are some common scenarios and tips for settling in.
Colleagues
Your colleagues may or may not have worked with a person with disability before, and in the workplace you are likely to find all the various attitudes and approaches to disability you encounter in the community.
If you experience ongoing difficulty with a colleague
Try talking to them in private, making sure to use ‘I’ language. For example, “I feel hurt when you make jokes about people with disability.” If you are not comfortable with this approach, or it doesn’t work, speak to your supervisor about your options. If it is your supervisor who you are having trouble with, you may wish to speak to a more senior person such as your supervisor’s manager, a member of the HR team or a union representative (if you are a member), or consult the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. It is important that any issues are addressed immediately.
Get Involved in the Workplace
Initiating conversation or inviting colleagues to lunch is a great way to break the ice or engage with those who seem nervous about working with someone who has a disability. Become actively involved in workplace social activities, from parties to after work drinks.
Learn to be assertive – politely
If you need to decline offers of assistance or refuse to respond to questions you don’t want to answer, do so firmly but politely. Continue some conversation or make some other remark to show there are no hard feelings.
Have a sense of humour Most things can be overcome with a sense of humour, and many allies can be made. Just think of your everyday life outside of work.
Build a support network Friends, colleagues and friends with disabilities make a great sounding board.
Keep it in perspective Developing your career and professional identity is a life long process, and no one expects you to be perfect in your first weeks or month. Everyone in your office was new once too!
Remember
- Work colleagues are a valuable resource when considering task modifications and inherent job requirements. Brainstorming opportunities can assist with this process, particularly if the modifications have the potential to impact on them.
- Everyone has had different degrees of exposure to people with disability. Disability awareness training may assist work colleagues by providing information on myths and facts, research and tips for communication and accommodations.
- You are your own expert on disability and as such, will be the most important resource for your workplace. Be proactive in finding solutions or improvements.
(Source: Flinders University, University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, ‘Employability: an employment resource guide for students with a disability’)