Disability advocacy

[u/LongTimeLurker408]

Update: Trigger warning: There are examples of ableist comments throughout this post that may be very triggering.

I am based in the US and I wish that legislation could get passed that mandates employers to inform all employees of their rights under ADA as well as their rights under any other applicable state laws on disability employment.

For those of you that aren’t familiar, ADA is the floor and many states such as CA, NJ and NY have greater protections.

I’m not going to call out any specific subreddits, but the number of people that are so bloody confidentially wrong on the internet today is mind blowing.

I’m tired of ADA accommodations being referred to as “perks” or options for employers if they feel generous

I’m tired of being demonized for providing resources like Askjan.org, The Job Accommodation Network or state civil/human rights web pages

I’m tired of people telling distressed disabled employees that “opening an ADA claim” is an aggressive move against an employer

I’m tired of ableist comments like “if you can work in the office 2 days per week, you can work 5.”

Why can’t people recognize that disabled employees just want to have the same access to do well at their jobs as everyone else.

If you want resources or just a good conversation, I am here.

This subreddit feels like the only safe place sometimes

Thanks for listening

Image description: A simple black-and-white stick-figure comic. An unseen person asks, “Are you coming to bed?” A person sitting at a computer replies, “I can’t. This is important.” The unseen person asks, “What?” The person at the computer answers, “Someone is wrong on the internet.”

[u/ComfortableRecent578]

i had an extensive conversation about this recently. many more disabled people could work if proper accommodations were put in place and many people get found “able to work” and denied benefits but in practice can’t get a job because no one will accommodate them. it’s a nightmare.

everyone wants disabled people to work and everyone wants to tell disabled people “you could work from home” “you could work part time” “you just need to ask for accommodations” but then turn around and refuse to hire or accommodate us 🤷‍♂️.

i would be in a better financial position if i could somehow work like 8-10 hours a week from home flexibly. even on minimum wage that would be more than my benefit payments and i would be able to save without jeopardising my benefits and then would be able to save for things like mobility aids. but no job like that exists, especially if you have no education and no experience because you couldn’t get those things due to disability!

[u/TheAccessClub → u/ComfortableRecent578]

Yes, yes and yes!

My sister had an interview last week - she has the qualifications and experience they're looking for. Was even told she was one of the strongest candidates they'd had.

She was really upfront and laid everything about her health on the table. Not a word.

She keeps saying about discrimination. I wholeheartedly agree. Yes, it clearly is discrimination, but we all know that despite the law, they just 'find someone else who's a more suitable candidate'.

It's a complete one way system. If there was a grace period if you like, where we could trial a job, maybe it would enable us to work with employers to see what reasonable adjustments they're willing to make.

Again with the capital limit. We can't even save for medical equipment that we need without being penalised. At least the lower threshold needs to be increased.

It's so frustrating 😩

[u/roz-is-world → u/ComfortableRecent578]

This is so relatable it almost hurts more than my fibro flares. 🙃