Opinions please.....

[Riley's Mommy]

on the ethics of disability acts with the employment law.

my sister is doing day release to college and needs to get as many peoples oppinions as possible for an assignment.

anyone got any thoughts on the matter?

any oppinions greatly recieved

 

[glitzyglamgirl]

Maybe you could elaborate a little as I work in that field so if you have any particular questions feel free to ask away

 

[Riley's Mommy]

i think she just wants genera; oppinions on the disability laws in the workplace.

so like the laws under employment for disabled people.

have i explained properly? lol

she is doing an assignment and needs alot of oppinions for her coursework.

so she asked for my help as i go to this forum alot and she doesnt know about forums lol.

 

[glitzyglamgirl]

well my general opinion is that the "guidelines" for disability access and rights in the workplace are very very good, however the actual "laws" can be lacking and still leave room for discrmination wether thats intentional or just through ignorance. My compnay holds seminars on disabilty access and rights in the workplace and the general consensus of attendees is that they want to know what the laws and guidelines are, but are sometimes surprised at just how indepth they are and how much work it can take to get a workplace (unless its a new building) up toe the standards necassary, and a lot of places will just decide (wrongly) that its not worth the expense if they have no disabled staff or a public business (ie a shop or cafe). This in turn puts them off hiring disabled people. So its a catch 22 really!

 

[Riley's Mommy]

thats great, thank you so much. just what shes looking for

ill pass your thoughts on to her

any other opinions guys?

 

[tracyM]

I'm stuck between 3 different points of view - I'm all for the ethics, but from a practical point of view, it sucks

As a parent of a 'disabled' child, I want him to have the same opportunities as everybody else. I'd like to think that potential employers will see past his problems, but that's not going to happen. He'll be able to work for me so he can have a job if necessary, but I want him to be able to explore his dreams.

As an internet consultant, a large percentage of my income is because of the DDA - accessibility / usability. I tell businesses the commercial benefits of making their products / services available to all via the internet, and then get paid to do the work needed.

As a potential employer, it's crap. If I take somebody on, I don't want to have to make allowances for a disability. It's not financially viable for a small business to implement special measures. I'm looking at taking on my first employee in February - I could take on a blind person, but how will they chose colour schemes. I could take on a deaf person, but I'm sure clients would get a bit annoyed talking to the textphone voice. I could take on somebody in a wheelchair, but it'll cost a fortune to get ramps / wide doors etc installed. If there's a commercial benefit to me taking somebody on with disablilities, I'll do it, but I'm not going to risk my business by taking somebody on just so I can be politically correct and feel good about myself. For big businesses, it's great - they should 'do their bit', but for small businesses, the law does nothing but stifle growth.

 

[glitzyglamgirl]

My point exactly Tracey but you put it much better than I could! Id be interested to know more about your work as I do work with DDA aswell - admin and markeing other than the nitty gritty but wouldnt it be mad if we work for the same company lol

 

[tracyM]

I work for myself - a lot of websites are 'coded' so that only a certain percentage of the population can use them. Blind people use screen readers to go on the internet, but 99% of websites are unusable for them. Some people use keyboard navigation because they have difficulty with a mouse, some people need to resize text because they have poor vision. I strip websites down to their essential components, make them 'machine readable', then put on the enhancements to make them look good for 'normal' users.

There are loads of other benefits too, but I'll end up going on forever.

 

[Kas]

Hiya i work with people with challenging behaviour and disabilities, and as someone already has said, people who are disabled can work, but theres a lot of draw backs, like some people dont want them workin in cafes due to drooling, facial deformities, they could be considdered for reception, and those with speech impediments cant answer fones, as people on the other side dont have the patience to understand whats being said, its a shame really, i hate it when people treat disabled ppl unfairly, it happened in asda the other day and i went thought the staff like a ton of bricks. One of our service users has physical and slight mental problems and she works voluntary at a nursey and the kids all love her to bits. Pity she wouldnt be considderd for part time paid, they just say her wheel chair could pose a fire risk, or the cant have her carer with her etc, they do say things have changed but i dont think it really has. XkelX

 

[PyscoFalcon]

Hiya

I'm semi disabled and can't work. Most places won't employ me as I can't gaurentee I can work everyday due to pain. Also I can't drive and will never beable to learn which is another killer to getting a job.

As for walking/ getting bus etc - I can't always walk. Last week my hubby had to walk the dog. Today I got to the farm (not even 2 mins away) and sat down resting whilst my dog was running round like a looney.

I have a recliner to prop myself up on whilst watching tv and a hotty to put on my back. My PC chair reclines too but I still have to get up and move around lots and keep running to the loo.

Unfortunatly most places nowadays are either too physical or too strict (in office's) for us disabled people to work especially at our potentiol even tho we want to.