Considerations for the Disabled Job Seeker
Searching for a job is pretty much always a bad time, but there’s no denying it’s even harder when you have a disability. Many jobs ask if you need accommodations to apply. It’s supposed to be a benefit and make the process more fair, but I wonder if it’s not also, sometimes, a screening device. I’ve been job searching for months now and I always self-identify as having a disability even amidst the nagging doubt that I shouldn’t. While being disabled is a legally protected class, enforcing equity in an application process is almost impossible to do as an individual applicant. Though I wonder if my self disclosure takes me out of the running before I’m even interviewed, I wish employers knew how much thought and consideration I, as a disabled applicant, put into my choice to apply. Before even clicking “apply,” I’ve already answered a multitude of questions for myself.
Do my skills match this job?
This is the most basic question that any job seeker asks, I think. Do I have the qualifications to match the requirements for the position, and could I do well in the role? I can often say yes to this. I consider myself a bright, talented person who can accomplish most any task under the right circumstances… which leads to question two:
Does this job work for my physicality?
This is where I have to start being brutally honest with myself. I’m looking for something that’s primarily seated. I can stand and walk, but I need to ask myself whether as a person with physical disabilities: can I stand for an hour today, or can I do it daily? Could I do this job for eight hours a day, five days a week? If I could, would it be to the detriment of everything else in my life? I mean, it’s great to be able to do the work, but if the rest of my time is simply spent recovering rather than experiencing any type of relaxation or recreation or joy… well that’s not sustainable.
Is this job sustainable for me?
I tend to look at nonprofit work because it aligns with my personal belief system. That means again, I’ve got to be pretty brutal with myself here. Part of the reason I’m job searching now is that my last job exacerbated my mental health and forced me to take some time off. Even if my best self is absolutely capable of doing the job, I need to consider if it’s sustainable. For me, high stress work isn’t sustainable. I can’t keep up with a culture of constant crisis because my disability doesn’t understand the difference between work stress and legitimate danger. That means instead of looking at direct service these days, I’m looking for a more administrative role. Less exciting, maybe less rewarding, but certainly less stressful.
What’s the commute situation?
This may seem like a silly question but it’s actually a massive part of the decision making process. If the commute is an ordeal and parking is difficult, it reduces my ability in general. That means that I have less to give and my answers to the first questions change. A long commute with offsite parking means I am less capable both mentally and physically to complete my work, making me have to choose between the job and my life outside it.
Ultimately, searching for a job can be a challenge regardless of whether or not you have a disability, but having one (or two or three) definitely ups the difficulty. My disabilities are a major consideration when job searching. By the time l’ve applied l’ve already considered the full impact of taking the job. Employers should appreciate the thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, and strategy their disabled applicants bring.
Based in Los Angeles, Anonymous (she/her) is a disabled attorney and cat lady. Photo of skeleton with bone arms thrown in the air in front of a laptop and calculator at the header of this blog is an actual photo of the author (sarcasm).
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