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Posted on: Sat, Sep 1 2007 1:40 PM
Posted by: BurnThisCube Posts: 253
These are exerpts from an article published online at Ragged Edge Online ( Ragged Edge Online Home ), here's a link to the article ID="A001095"The Stigma of Not Working
As someone with an invisible disability, I've wanted to contribute to this subject but have too many mixed emotions. This author speaks for me.
Bruce
The Stigma of Not Working
by Nancy Foley.
A man is a worker. If he is not that he is nothing. -- Joseph Conrad
Not everyone can work.
This will be true no matter how hard we push employers to make "accommodations." It will be true no matter what types of adaptive equipment we invent.
After trying so hard and losing so much, it is frustrating to encounter people who suspect that we really could work full time...Some people with disabilities (particularly those with visible disabilities) have been denied employment opportunities because society underestimates their abilities. They are angry when others try to help them with tasks they can do themselves. They want the world to know how capable they are.
Many of us fall into another category. We suffer from invisible injuries, such as chronic pain, or have poorly understood diagnoses, like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivity. Nondisabled people do not believe us when we say we cannot work. They think we are lazy.
...it is frustrating to encounter people who suspect that we really could work full time. Some people mean well. I have had friends suggest I become a lawyer or run for elected office. They intend a compliment, not understanding the difference between mental and physical ability.
When I try to explain, they look confused and mutter about "accommodations." The push for reasonable accommodations has left the impression that every barrier to full-time employment can be removed. Furthermore, we live in a society that makes it difficult to say, "I can't." We have been taught that we can do anything if we try hard enough.
Most nondisabled people equate what they do with who they are. They are proud of their professional accomplishments. Many injured workers do feel a loss of identity initially. With time, we realize that we still have value apart from our professions. Having to figure out how to survive is a far greater achievement than any professional accomplishment.
Clearly, we can "contribute" in ways other than work. People with disabilities share something in common with homemakers. A homemaker may feel that she is making an important contribution and living a full life, while others regard her as the lowest of the low because she is not part of the paid labor force.
Nancy Foley lives in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and is the director of the Alliance for Injured Workers, a project of the Western Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health. Her email is nancywrote@aol.com.
Posted on: Wed, Sep 19 2007 11:07 AM
Posted by: Kara Posts: 2,278
This is really interesting....to achieve FULL inclusion into society and enjoy all the rights of our society, we should be given the same choices of others without disabilities-including the right to stay home. I think many of the prejudices and harmful systems we face are directly related to the excessive focus of our country on LABOR in the traditional sense. Our world would be a better place if we all realized that we NEED some to contribute in nontraditional ways that don't necessarily involve clocking in/out and getting a paycheck.
Thanks for sharing this article. I loved Ragged Edge-wish it would be updated again!
Posted on: Tue, Sep 25 2007 10:05 AM
Hi Kara,
Of course the SYSTEM wants as many as possible to be taxpaying wage earners as opposed to benefit receivers. You're on the money (pardon the pun) when you say "...we NEED some to contribute in nontraditional ways that don't necessarily involve clocking in/out and getting a paycheck." including personal advocacy which ultimately, albeit slowly, aids in changing "...the prejudices and harmful systems...".
Glad to have you in our Disaboom community ,
DISALIFE my blog
PS: Kara, check your inbox.
Posted on: Fri, Nov 30 2007 9:38 AM
Posted by: Luckenbach Posts: 2
Define "work". I'm not a good writer, but I was disabled for 10 years, and I did think it was permanent.
I often joke "This is not work, work is when I get paid!" But that's not a good definition, a better one might be that work is doing something you love. I do get paid now, and I also do what I love.
No one would hire me, you may also find it difficult to get a "job". A solution for many is to start your own business, some call it "self employed". I had no choice, I was the employer of last resort, lol. If no one will hire you, hire yourself.
That last paragraph sounds pretty bad, doesn't it? Sounds so "you don't understand", right? Go on, cry about it, I sure did. Then get started. If plan A doesn't work out, go to plan B, then C, never ever give up.
Posted on: Fri, Nov 30 2007 1:20 PM
Posted by: tweiss1 Posts: 172
The subject of stigma associated with not working from the perspective of traditional pay for services provided, either through physical labor or duties performed, is an exceptionally difficult one for persons with disabilities. From my own perspective, it has been merciless. It does not seem to matter how prepared I am, how much education I pursue, or how tactful I am during an interview; the results remain. ADA laws may very well be in place, yet weasel-like discrimination through anti-disability sentiment and ageism prevail.
I walk through a door, into an employer's office; this is what an employer sees:
Thomas: Six foot, one inch tall, blond hair, a tad gray at the temples, with blue eyes. Around 224 lbs., well-dressed. He has an immaculate two page resume, with a wonderful education.
What they do not see, at first, is that I have epilepsy, diabetes, and PTSD. Upon performing a background check, they find out that I have a former diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder as well. It does not seem to matter that this diagnosis has changed to one of PTSD. It does not matter that ADA law prohibits discrimination. It does not matter that I have an education, or that I am physically able to perform the jobs that I am applying for. NOPE - that younger person, without any form of disabling condition, has started to look better and better.
OK - "Hire yourself," Thomas, as one person here has suggested. Alright, I studied organizations and how they work. Problem? I did not study the specifics of how to run a small business on a personal level, I studied how to work with organizations on a leadership and organizational theory levels. I studied how to be a Director, Producer and Coach, working with others. I love to write, and work with others like myself.
Soooooooo; yeah.
Alrighty, then. Now folks with disabilities, no matter what form of disabling condition they might have, are expected to deal with quite a bit. The Medical World, and everything it implies, from our own health to the medical personnel we interact with, to family member's reactions, to medications, and etc, and so forth. Social reaction to us, including everything from, "those stares," to, "those stairs." Let's not forget those employers. How about accessibility issues from restaurants to Greyhound (can you actually get in the door to *visit* your doctor?). Spirituality; the depths of our very own souls late at night or on the corner downtown. Meanwhile, we are supposed to put a brave face on all this and more, while not, "whining," about it, and live on poverty incomes, and accept our place in life.
When it comes to employment, and the stigma associated with it, I am thankful to have a roof over my head, and food to eat. You better believe I want something more. The very Disability Organizations that try so hard to serve us by providing options in the area of employment just cannot seem to do enough; they are fighting for funding and the ability to provide services. The world, it would seem, has not stepped out of the middle-ages where consideration of persons with disabilities and the equalization of the working world in regards to us is concerned.
The fight continues...
Posted on: Fri, Nov 30 2007 2:45 PM
TWeiss, you are so right.
I remember well. Got a degree, graduated *** laude, and applied for many many jobs that I would have been very good at. They never said it, but after a while you know the employers just don't want to hire anyone with a disability. I'm sure there are some enlighted employers, I've seen the guy in the wheelchair at CompUSA, but in general they want those they think will be able bodied employees. I was very disappointed, and a bit annoyed. One gets very tired of filling out applications only to be rejected over and over.
You are correct, the world is far from perfect, and still in the middle-ages in many ways. I don't think we are going to change the world much very soon.
My wife and I went out to eat today, and a nice woman waited on us, probably in her 50's. Towards the end of the meal she was at the cash register when one of the cooks came out to speak with her, and she said "Ok, grandma". Her grandma was working in the kitchen, must be about 90 years old, and she was working! She didn't walk too good, but she was smiling, and then I heard her talking about someone else that had retired from the restaurant, to go work somewhere else. I doubt any of those "employers" that we spoke with would hire "grandma" either, if she's 90 she is certainly disabled is some ways, yet she works.
I don't know any easy answers, but if Stephen Hawking can work, perhaps you can too.
David
Posted on: Fri, Nov 30 2007 3:19 PM
Posted by: Whitney Posts: 679
I've seen this from both sides. More often than not, when I was looking for work, I found it. I would love to say because of my skill set and experience. Plenty of times it was merely being able to help a company achieve their affirmative action goals. But I also had a period of time where I was trying to find work in a field other than what I had been working (ie getting out of the stressful enviroment that is a healthcare insurance customer service call center), and found doors closed in my face at every turn. Unlike you guys, I have a very visible disability. During that time, I was trying to find something part-time and fairly simplistic. Most of those jobs were for small business employers. I never once was able to cry discrimination because they either never called me back or used my ill-fitting work skills as an excuse but I really had a hard time believing that it wasn't because, like you guys, of my disability and the discomfort that cause these employers that I didn't get hired.
Interesting isn't it?
If I were to go out today to find a job, I mostly likely would find one based on my skills set. I have to say I'm a kick-ass healthcare insurance person (partially out of necessity), so they'd be an idiot not to hire me. I'm choosing at this time not to work because of my kids, and partly because I'm still in the danger zone for post-pardum depression to return (had it really bad with my daughter) as my son is only 5 months old. A gal with PPD is no good to any employer no matter how fabulous she is.
Posted on: Fri, Nov 30 2007 3:25 PM
P.S. Not to lessen a women's feelings on this, but I'm of the opinion that men take this harder. Men still view themselves for the most part as the provider, and to not be able to provide is a huge blow on their self-esteem, especially if their providing ability is suddenly taken from them.
I like what Nancy says with her comparisions to this situation and homemakers. Its what we make of our situations that's important. (Sure I could sit around eating Wheat Thins and Twinkies watching TV while the kids run around a filthy house in dirty diapers, but I choose not to do that - most times hehe).
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