YOU CAN WORK WITH A DISABILITY

What an opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone who would really, really appreciate it.

If you have an opening available an it could be filled by someone with a disability, why not go that route - you would be making such a difference in the life of someone who would really appreciate it!

You can work with a disability
09 November 2007 at 06h00

South Africa's constitution is one of the few in the world that recognise the rights of people with disabilities.In addition the Employment Equity Act, the Equality Act and Section S of the Building Regulations Act endorse the rights of people with disability to live, work and play in South Africa. But the realities are more sobering: people with disabilities make up 10 percent -15 percent of the population. This translates into over 5-million South Africans with disabilities, of which 95 percent are unemployed. Most buildings, facilities and public transport remain inaccessible to the disabled, and job opportunities remain largely limited and stereotypical.

The goal should be the natural and unhesitant inclusion of people with disability into society by viewing people with disabilities as citizens who can learn, earn, spend and pay taxes.The JumpStart career guide and life skills manual provides the following tips for job seekers with disabilities:

Don't allow yourself to be pushed into a stereotypical career path.

If you're studying further, ensure that your course is relevant and that the skills you acquire are of value in the workplace.

Few recruitment agencies successfully specialise in disability placement. Use "normal" agencies. They too need to learn about disability.

Know that, like everyone else, you'll have to prove your value. Ensure, for example, that the format, content, grammar, spelling, focus and professionalism of your CV are perfect.

In your CV, feel free to mention your disability under personal details. But draw attention to your abilities, competencies and experience your disability should be largely irrelevant.

Understand that there may be those in the job market who are reluctant to hire you. Be assertive enough to recognise that reluctance is largely based on ignorance and challenge it.

Be confident. You have the same rights as any other job seeker.

The Star Workplace and JumpStart publishers are giving away copies of the handbook every week for the following five weeks. To receive a copy for yourself or a loved one, e-mail your postal details to info@jumpstarthandbook.co.za with JumpStart Give Away in the subject line. You can also access an electronic version of JumpStart on www.jumpstarthandbook.co.za

Clearly this last part is no longer applicable, but I am sure that they are still selling copies if you want one.