Workplace adjustments and future career options
When deciding on a career direction, consider whether your disability will affect your capacity to work in the career(s) you are interested in. The challenge in thinking about the effect of your disability on your future work life is to balance a realistic approach with a confidence that people with disability can and do work successfully in a wide range of fields. The effects of your disability should and need not be an unnecessary barrier to working in your dream career.
For further information see FAQ Sheet 7: What are workplace adjustments?.
Here are some strategies for thinking about potential careers as a graduate with disability:
- Don't assume from initial information about the industry that you couldn't perform the work. Ask specific questions and seek advice. You might be surprised by the workplace adjustments that are possible and effective.
- Do a 'reality test' on whether work in your selected career can be adjusted to accommodate the effects of your disability in the workplace. Find out as much as possible about the daily work tasks usually involved in the industry and the job requirements. Think practically through the day to day realities of the tasks you would need to perform and the other requirements you would have to meet.
- Have a broad understanding of your right to workplace adjustments under anti-discrimination legislation and therefore what you can and should expect an employer to do to accommodate the effects of your disability at work. For further information see FAQ Sheet 8: What are my rights against disability discrimination in the workplace?
- Think about whether you would prefer to disclose your disability at work or not. Some career directions are more likely to require disclosure than others. For further information see FAQ Sheet 9: What do I need to consider when deciding whether to disclose my disability at work?
- Get professional advice about your specific circumstances, the career you are interested in and the types of workplace adjustments that may be possible.
- Remember that many graduates with disability succeed in their chosen career. This is often made possible due to innovative, simple but well planned workplace adjustments.
Useful websites
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'Choosing Your Path. Disclosure: It's A Personal Decision' (2003)
This resource has been developed for students and employees with disabilities and also for employers, educators and support services. The resource provides information about:- options and pathways a person with a disability has when deciding to disclose their disability
- the benefits and disadvantages of disclosing, as well as some key considerations to achieving effective disclosure
- the rights, roles and responsibilities of employers, educators and support services when a person discloses a disability in post secondary education and employment.
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Employment and graduates with a disability: Gradlink website
This web page outlines the barriers and possible strategies to achieve good employment outcomes. -
Equity at work: UTS Online Career Resource Centre
This website provides an excellent searchable database of careers-related websites for graduates with a disability. -
FAQs: Australian Human Rights Commission
An excellent overview about reasonable adjustments in employment with examples of adjustments and reference to case law. -
Reasonable adjustments: Diversity@work website
This web page provides an overview of reasonable adjustments in the workplace. -
What are reasonable adjustments: JobAble website
The JobAble website provides information about identifying and implementing reasonable adjustments in the work environment. -
Jobs for the Disabled, Tips on working with a disABILITY
An excerpt from a book written by American author Kathleen Fullerton Bernhard, Ph.D. (author of WORK WITH YOUR disABILITY) which discusses the decision of disclosing a disability when applying for employment. -
Disclosure and Jobseeker Privacy (2004)
Diversity@work has written this resource in consultation with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations for jobseekers with disabilities and employers. The disclosure section outlines the rights and responsibilities of jobseekers when considering disclosing a disability, including rights under federal privacy legislation. -
Why, when and how to disclose a disability?
A University of Melbourne site that provides an overview of the issues and strategies in choosing to disclose a disability in a uni environment including disability legal services and information. -
Willing and Able Mentoring program (WAM): Gradlink website
Uni students who have a disability or ongoing medical condition and who have completed at least one year of their course can choose to participate in the Willing & Able Mentoring program (WAM). WAM is a national program which matches tertiary students with mentors in organisations in the students' field of interest for a series of approximately six to eight 1 to 2-hour discussion meetings. -
Australian Employers Network on Disability website
Australian Employers Network on Disability is a member funded organisation that promotes and supports businesses that encourage people with a disability as employees, customers and suppliers. The website provides an employer directory of businesses that have been considered to have vision and commitment to the employment of people with disabilities.