#autism employment gap

[johnlocked1827384]

I finally got hired for a job I mean it is part time event staff stuff and it's no guaranteed hours or anything but I had an interview and then I got hired which is kind of a big deal for me because I'm autistic and I've been trying to get a job while I'm studying on and off for a few years now

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

hii, do you have any help for job hunting? I've been unemployed for so long I've kind of forgotten what I /did/ before in job hunting and now I'm scared with the huge gap years and my lack of skills because I couldn't be a good unemployed person doing formations and classes I really just only gotten obsessed over my garden 😑

Hi there,

I found some sites that have listed some jobs.

I hope these have jobs that interests you. Thank you for the inbox. I hope you have a wonderful day/night. ♥️

[autistpride]

Autism Acceptance

Prompt 11: Coffee shop AU

Wordcount: 1000

@wolfstarmicrofic

Remus had trouble finding work. He put in applications everywhere, for any position, because he was desperate. Despite passing all his courses and gaining the required GCSE’s, he bombed his interviews. So he had told his parents that he would take a gap year instead and get some work experience. Only no one called him for an interview and the few that had, turned him away within minutes.

After nearly two months, Remus finally came clean to his parents about his lack of employment. His mum had to hold his dad back from giving a few of the places he applied a piece of his mind. Never one to allow Remus to give up, Lyall decided he would open up his own coffee shop and hire Remus as an employee.

Everything moved quickly and soon The Full Moon Cafe opened its doors. A small quaint little hole in the wall shop that mixed coffee, library, and children’s playground together. One corner of the shop held a little indoor climbing structure, slide, and foam floors for children. The other two walls were covered floor to ceiling in books that people donated. The last wall housed the single unisex toilet and the tiny kitchenette space. It also had the counter and display case that showed off the day’s delicious baked goods that his mum made fresh every morning. 

It took Remus some time to get used to the position and how to make all the different drinks, but everyone was patient with him. By the time his gap year was over, Remus was a pro and asked to stay on instead of trying for university again. He had learned all the regulars names, memorised their orders, and even went so far as to have them ready for when they walked in. Remus hadn’t encountered a rude customer or a confusing order once, that could also have to do with the fact that it was a fairly small town and everyone knew everyone. No one came into the cafe that didn’t know Remus was autistic, at least not until Sirius Black. 

The bell dinged over the cafe door and the prettiest guy Remus had ever seen walked in one after the other. Remus had never seen anyone like them before. They were total opposites yet so oddly the same.

“I’ll have an iced Ristretto, ten shot, venti with breve. five pumps vanilla, seven pumps caramel, and four Splenda poured not shaken, but placed into a trenta cup so it doesn’t splash out the top.”

The look on Remus’ face must have betrayed him because the man looked at Remus and immediately changed his order. “On second thought, I’ll just have a tea.”

Remus nodded and rang the man up, asking for his name. 

“Sirius. Yes I am serious. Sirius, like the star,” the man said while pulling his hair back into a scrunchie he apparently kept in his pocket.

Remus wrote the name on the cup and poured the hot water into it, placing the loose leaf tea into a disposable tea bag and setting it into the cup to steep before handing it to Sirius, the star. 

Sirius nodded his thanks and set up at a small table near the entrance. 

For the following four days later Sirius came back, once again ordering a tea and nothing more. Remus didn’t work weekends, instead his friend James took those shifts. James played football with the local club and attended courses at university during the week, so he took all the weekend shifts.

Remus couldn’t get Sirius out of his head all weekend and when he showed up for work on Monday, Sirius was there right at opening. 

Another week went by and Remus and Sirius had started to talk more, just general pleasantries and small talk. Sirius never ordered anything more than tea and sometimes a pastry. Remus knew he could make complicated orders and he knew Sirius knew after two weeks sitting in the cafe and listening to some of the complex requests from customers that came in, but Sirius never asked for his original order again. 

That third week, Remus had Sirius’ tea ready by the time he walked in every morning, not unlike the other regulars. Yet what Remus never said was that Remus practised at night after the shop closed up. He was determined to get Sirius’ original order right. It took him another week to manage it, and when he did he cheered and danced around the shop.

Monday of the fourth week, Remus handed  Sirius his order when he showed up. Sirius looked at the cup confused. 

“Remus this isn’t a tea” he said with his brows furrowed and his nose scrunched up.

Remus shook his head no with a grin, “no its not.”

Sirius took a tentative sip of the drink and his eyes widened in surprise, stormy grey meeting golden.

“You made my order.” 

Remus nodded, proud of himself.

Sirius took another drink and moaned as if he was drinking the best thing he had ever tasted.

The noise was absolutely obscene in Remus’ ears and his ears turned dark red and his cheeks flushed. 

“Remus this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. You remembered something I told you like a month ago and you, you practised this didn’t you?”

Remus simply shrugged like it was no big deal. 

Sirius set the cup down on the counter before leaning over the counter and wrapping his arms around Remus in the most awkward hug Remus had ever experienced, and he experienced a lot of awkward hugs. 

When Remus didn’t return the hug Sirius dropped his arms and stuttered through another thank you and practically ran to his usual table, forgetting his drink on the counter. 

Remus looked down, seeing the cup, and bit back a laugh before walking it across the cafe to him. 

“Oh fuck thanks,” Sirius mumbled. 

“Hey SIrius?” Remus asked, “can we try that again?”

 Sirius smiled and nodded.

[lyriumrain]

While I do absolutely relate to the trans metaphor aspect of I Saw the TV Glow, what I think hit harder was the feeling of being frozen out of your own life.

I had a breakdown at work in my 20s, I felt so overwhelmed. This is when I realised that I couldn't handle having a job and doing a university degree simultaneously. They stopped calling me into work after that, I didn't even quit technically. But I just focused on finishing my degree.

However this break in my "working life", and my autism + adhd diagnosis, meant I just wouldn't be hired, anywhere. And I still can't. It doesn't matter how hard I try to sell myself, it doesn't matter how confident I try to appear, or how clear I try to make it that I'm "passionate" about returning to work; nothing matters because all they (employers) see is an ever-increasing gap in my resume. I'm too much work for anyone to care about.

People say "work isn't everything", but anyone who spends 5 minutes in a capitalist society can tell you - yes, yes it is actually. Despite being in an incredibly lucky position with friends who support me, I still feel like I'm standing on the outside, watching everyone else get to live. While I'm suffocating. And not even the people who care about me can do anything to help.

Owen screaming "I'm dying right now" to a room full of people who just shut-down in response is how I feel all the fucking time. I lie about having a job when I meet someone new, because people get so viscerally uncomfortable at the mere mention of "unemployment".

I want so desperately to be myself, to live how I feel inside. But there's only so much volunteering or going for walks can do to fill a void of emptiness caused by living in a broken society where your worth as a human being depends on being able to work a 9-5.

[transmutationisms]

do you think vaccines should be mandatory? my view has always been that public health would outweigh personal choice in this instance but i also see the bodily autonomy argument, though ultimately i think it’s flawed and weird to compare, say, abortions with vaccines. i was wondering if you had an opinion or any resources on this topic?

this is one of those questions where i think the framing conceals a lot of unspoken premises and social/political assumptions. what do we even mean by a vaccine mandate in the first place? the truth is that in many contexts, vaccines are already mandatory—the trick is that these mandates are generally designed and first enforced by employers, schools, and private business establishments, rather than coming through direct state intervention. incidentally, most censorship works similarly, despite it also being positioned discursively as a matter of direct state intervention. the truth is that you are far more likely to run into problems if you, say, have an employer who requires vaccination—which makes your paycheck (that is, your ability to continue living) dependent on a medical intervention—than you are to face some kind of right-winger fear fantasy of a shadowy government agent showing up to your doorstep with a syringe. these things happen by economic coercion far more than through direct state command.

with that in mind, to me the issue that 'vaccine mandates' point to isn't so much an idealist conflict between 'safety' and 'liberty' or however nyt is framing it these days—rather, it's the fact that employers have the structural position to impose their will on employees, who often must comply or face, literally, starvation. i am willing to say this is a bad social structure despite the fact that in the case of vaccines i obviously agree that the particular intervention in question is a good thing, and is something that anyone who is medically eligible should be getting. in order to make vaccines mandatory, you need an enforcement mechanism—the one we currently primarily rely on is economic coercion in the form of threatening loss of livelihood (again, this also applies to most censorship cases). while i, again, strenuously think that people who can get vaccinated should do so, in order to make such a thing compulsory you have to confront the issue of what power structures make the compulsion possible and actionable. prisons? relying on the political whims and economic threats of employers? too often, a 'mandatory vaccine' is presented as though it could be ethically debated in the abstract, without reference to these conditions!

anyway, i'm not going to pretend that i can solve vaccine hesitancy in the next 90 seconds in a tumblr post, but off the top of my head here are some factors i think are major contributors to this issue:

ableism (eg, andrew wakefield preying on the fact that many parents would rather risk their children catching preventable dangerous diseases than let them be supposedly exposed to a greater chance of becoming autistic)

public distrust of physicians and public health infrastructure, for reasons ranging from medical racism and eugenics to discomfiting and traumatic experiences with the inherently (in this system) power-imbalanced relationship between medical professionals and patients

the massive gap between expert and lay knowledge on medical topics, enforced by mechanisms like paywalls and benefitting the prestige and pecuniary enrichment of physicians and public health experts (this provides fertile ground for grifters and liars to prey on people's confusion and difficulty verifying information)

possibilities for lies about vaccines to lead to financial enrichment, as in the case of social media grifts, heterodox and alternative medical practitioners, or eg andrew wakefield trying to sell his own vaccine after publishing his now-retracted paper on the supposed link between autism and the mmr vaccine

these are all bad things; they are also all actionable things. i do not think that it's some kind of transhistorical condition of humanity that we must choose between either passing each other dangerous diseases or designing coercive or punitive measures to force compliance with public health recommendations. i think all of these things are in fact very directly resultant of capitalism, the way it values bodies and health (biopolitics), and its politics of knowledge and expertise.

[if-im-being-honest]

The autism employment gap scares me

[manifestosummaries]

Disability

Conservative Party

Continue the Lilac Review to encourage more female and disabled entrepreneurs - Paraphrased (page 9/80)

"reform the system to make it fairer and more sustainable, unlocking the potential of millions of people and giving them the support they need to get into work" - Specifically in relation to disability & health condition (page 24/80)

"Reform our disability benefits so they are better targeted and reflect people’s genuine needs, while delivering a step-change in mental health provision" - In relation to "unsustainable rise in benefit claims for people of working age with a disability or health condition" - This includes "improving PIP assessments" and changing provisions offered (page 24/80)

Continue to modernise autism and learning disability services (page 43/80)

Give councils the power to ban pavement parking - Subject to business & residential engagement (page 59/80)

Delivering "Disability Action Plan", Pass the "Down Syndrome Act", Improve support for people with guide / assistance dogs - There are no specifics on any of these (page 61-62/80)

Explore hosting the 2031 Special Olympics World Summer Games (page 62/80)

Accelerate the rollout of Universal Credit to ensure it always pays to work - Including eliminating the legacy benefits system entirely (page 25/80)

Taking a zero-tolerance approach to welfare fraud - Relevant as it will make access harder (page 25/80)

Labour

Tackle access to work claim backlog (to address issue of immediate benefit reassessments), reform / replace Work Capability Assessments, support disabled people getting into work (page 43/136)

Ensure special schools address the needs of those with disabilities and have a community-wide approach incorporating schools and SEND - paraphrased (page 83/136)

Equalise pay for disabled people (88/136)

Improve employment support (89/136)

Protect disabled people by making all existing strands of hate crime an aggravated offence (89/136)

Look for ways to incorporate support for working aged disabled people into the National Care Service (NCS) Labour will establish - paraphrased (page 101/136)

Review Universal Credit (page 78/136)

Liberal Democrats

Help disabled people enter the job market (page 18/117)

Ending inappropriate and costly inpatient placements for people with learning disabilities and autism (page 33/117)

Ensure parents can access childcare that helps identifying and supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities in the new training programme for early years staff (page 48/117)

Improve the benefits system for disabled people by giving disabled people a stronger voice in policy & process, bringing work capability assessments in-house, and reforming personal independence payment processes - paraphrased (page 52/117)

Improve Disabled Access in the rail network (page 79/117)

"Give everyone a new right to flexible working and every disabled person the right to work from home if they want to, unless there are significant business reasons why it is not possible" (page 94/117)

Requiring large employers to monitor and publish data on disability (and other protected characteristic) employment levels, pay gaps and progression, and publish five-year aspirational diversity targets (page 96/117)

Make it easier for disabled people to access public life by adopting new standards for public spaces, improving legislative framework around blue badges, incorporating UN law on disabled people into UK law, tackling the employment gap, raising awareness of the access to work scheme, introducing "adjustment passports" to clearly express individual needs and adjustments, expand on the BSL act, including in government communicates (page 97/117)

Establish an independent commission for annual increases to Universal Credit to appropriately cover living expenses (page 51/117)

Reduce wait for first Universal Credit payment from 5 weeks to 5 days (page 52/117)

"Ending the young parent penalty for under-25s by restoring the full rate of Universal Credit for all parents regardless of age" (page 52/117)

Green Party (England & Wales)

"Free personal care to ensure dignity in old age and for disabled people" (page 7/48)

"Restore the value of disability benefits with an immediate uplift of 5%" (page 8/48)

"End the unfair targeting of carers and disabled people on benefits" (page 8/48)

"Oppose plans to replace Personal Independence Payments (PIP) cash payments with ‘vouchers’, and in the long term reform intrusive eligibility tests like PIP" (page 8/48)

"Make it mandatory for councils to provide free transport for 16–18-year-old pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disability"

"Ensure disabled workers have the in-job support they need, as well as proper pay and conditions" (page 8/48)

"Champion the right to inclusive welfare support, and housing under the principles of universal design" (page 8/48)

"Push for pay-gap protections to be extended to all protected characteristics including ethnicity, disability" (page 20/48)

"Equate the rate of pension tax relief with the basic rate of income tax to help fund the social care that will allow elderly and disabled people on low incomes to live in dignity" (page 22/48)

"20 miles per hour to be the default speed limit on roads in all built-up areas, allowing children, the elderly and disabled people to walk and wheel safely" (page 34/48)

Increase representation of under-represented groups including disabled people (page 35-36/48)

"Work cross party to support sports to be more diverse and representative, especially for women and girls and disabled people" (page 40/48)

"Police Services need to acknowledge the institutional racism, misogyny, homophobia and disablism that have dominated policing for so long" (page 41/48)

"Increase Universal Credit and legacy benefits by £40 a week" (page 21/48)

"Oppose plans to replace Personal Independence Payments (PIP) cash payments with ‘vouchers’, and in the long term reform intrusive eligibility tests like PIP" (page 8/48)

"We will end benefit sanctions and challenge the punitive approach to welfare claimants, instead recognising that that all of us might need extra support or a safety net at different points in our lives" (page 21/48)

Push to introduce Universal Basic Income (page 21/48)

Plaid Cymru

Adopt the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People into UK law to assure accessibility for all which was ratified by the UK in 2009, but never introduced into law (page 71/72)

Introduce a minimum threshold to universal credit - Paraphrased (page 40/72)

"The timetable for receipt of first payments of Universal Credit should be shortened so that individuals and families do not get into substantial debt, and repayments should operate on the basis of supporting people" (page 40/72)

Pilot Universal Basic Income (page 41/72)

[psychofrogpondwater]

I've been going over stuff that's happened in my life and I am amazed by a few things.

I see NT people acknowledging autism, or someone that's autistic, then criticize them when they don't understand things. They try to help them, and theres continued difficulties, the NT give up, then criticize, and even start accusing the ND person that they're doing it intentionally to get a rise out of them.

Somehow it is easier to believe that the ND individual are actually perfectly fine, and have, for some reason, decided that the best way to get what they want (socializing, attention, pity etc) is to go out of their way to feign ignorance about something that "everyone knows" and ask repetitive questions, all to get a rise out of others for their enjoyment. Sharing tragedies like a family members died, loss of employment are considered cries for attention, excitedly sharing good news about buying a home, or getting a car is bragging, trying to empathize with someone by giving an example of a similar experience is the ND trying to bring the spotlight onto themselves. And when they're having a total meltdown, their attempts to placate themselves, or explain what's causing their pain, is met with harsh criticism, called selfish.

Somehow, to some NTs, this person is perfectly able bodied and of sound mind, and made active decisions to take the most obtuse, painful, difficult and awkward methods to live by. Like they looked at all the available options, and constantly decides to use the worst options possible, because it will work eventually. Despite it causing all forms of trauma, from sexual abuse, bullying, losing friends, lovers, family, jobs, career chances.

Somehow that's easier to believe than they legit have difficulty with socializing, that the confusion and anxiety isn't an act.

Though, to be fair, I can understand the frustration. I have been on both sides, and it hurts either way.

After trying to help someone, eventually patience runs low, difficulty understanding where the gaps in the knowledge is at, and the other person seemingly forgetting lessons learned. Constantly leaning on you, when you get frustrated, falling back on it's my ND diagnosis.

In the end, it's not fun for either person, and it takes a lot of effort from both parties to get along. Sometimes you need to take a break, and some distance between before you can try to rebuild a bridge.

If it can be rebuilt.

[thoughtsaboutautism]

Thoughts about the article "Neurodiversity and disability: what is at stake?"

I had the opportunity to read and gather some thoughts about the article published recently by Dr. Eleanor K Jones. The piece talks about the pillars of the neurodiversity movement as well as cite recent works done by neurodiversity advocates. Dr. Jones also explains critics that are made towards the NDM and possible outcomes of its growth, specially in the UK.

The first remark I would like to make about this article is related to a campaign started by an English politician. Mentioned in the first page of the article:

"MP Robert Buckland has launched a campaign aimed at ‘closing the employment gap for autistic people and those with other neurodivergent needs’. The campaign supports businesses to ‘improve the life chances of neurodivergent employees’ (Buckland 2023) in order that they might ‘reap the benefits of a neurodiverse workforce'"

I could summarize all my critics about the NDM only using this exact paragraph. My problem with neurodiversity is not that it tries to improve the self-steem of autistic people by highlighting the good parts of being autistic. My problem is that they do that while completely erasing the real deficits and difficulties of being autistic. With the popularization of the NDM and the persistence in calling autism a difference and not a disorder, reducing social issues to double empathy problem and the disability that autism causes to the social model of disability harms all autistic people. It opens up doors to things like what the English politician is proposing: autistic people don't need disability money because actually they can work. Autistic people don't need support workers or care facilities because actually, they are just different.

And what I found most interesting about this paper is that there are real resources of people saying that. A lot of times, when I try to explain things I disagree with in the Neurodiversity Movement, I get told "well, actually, the NDM doesn't defend that" or when I say that high support needs autistics and people with intellectual disabilities are excluded from the NDM I am told "no, that's not true". Dr. Jones provides very good background to those claims that critics of the NDM have been talking about.

One other important point in the text is when Dr. Jones explains that criticism against neurodiversity is often filled with ableism and I'd dare to say pseudoscience as well. I think she is absolutely correct. Often times I see criticism of the NDM coming from people who believe vaccines cause autism, who treat autistics with intellectual disability as kids and reproduce other kinds of ableism. Criticism of NDM is important, it's valuable and necessary! We must speak up and we must keep fighting for more inclusion in our community. However, one thing we must do is organize ourselves. If possible, like Dr. Jones, write papers, share our experiences, share the experiences of higher needs autistics. But we can't rely on pseudoscience and anti-psychiatry like many in the NDM do.

A remark I would like to add is when Dr. Jones talks about activists who want to take autism off the DSM and who believe ASD is comparable to being LGBTQ. I won't address the problems with comparing ASD with sexuality/gender identity etc, neither the absurd claim that autism shouldn't be in the DSM. However, when the author points out these topics, Dr. Jones explains that, to the NDM, pathologization of autism equates curing ASD. I agree though I don't really understand why activists would think that. But I have a completely different opinion: understanding that autism is a serious developmental disability that causes serious deficits is the way we can improve treatments that give better life quality to autistic people and their families. Accepting that some have more severe communication and language difficulties means we get to improve AAC methods, we can teach them better how to express themselves. How amazing is that? But when we deny that these deficits exist and simply label them as a double empathy problem, then there's no reason to work on improving services and therapies that help autistic people.

Besides that, it seems to me that a lot of people think that accepting deficits means that we want to yell at kids "you are dumb! you are disabled, you can't do this and you can't do that". And while I agree some professionals are mean and do that to kids (I have been through that myself, trust me), that's not what I mean when I say we must accept deficits. We must treat kids with kindness and compassion, we must teach them they are different and that they do have difficulties. Their issues are not going to disappear if you don't tell them about it, they will notice that they aren't getting as good grades as their peers (trust me, we know), but learning to accept their difficulties is the way for them to learn how to love themselves as they are and not how they "could be" if they "tried harder".

At last, as Dr. Jones explains, the NDM tries to distance itself from the disability movement, as much as their activists try saying they don't. By denying impairments, by denying that autism is harmful, by denying the very real deficits autism causes, the NDM is pretty much creating an imaginary autism that is only experienced by a small but loud amount of people on the autism spectrum.

I want to thank Dr. Jones for writing such a good paper and for the person who sent me this. I really enjoyed reading. English is not my first language, so excuse me for any misunderstandings of the text.

I would like to end my thoughts about this with this amazing paragraph by Dr. Jones:

In short, neurodiversity’s insistence on autism and other mental disability as an essential, immutable part of one’s brain falls short of fully considering the dangers of the biological essentialism it implies because it does not reckon with this genealogy, among others.

[kleefkruid]

this is why most people with ADHD/autism (after excluding the about 80% of autistic people who are unemployed*) are self-employed or semi (freelance work etc), because while being self-employed is considered very difficult it's still easier than finding a decent fullfilling job with an employer that cares (and understand!) your needs.

*there's a small variation from country to country but it's sadly always around this number, so even taking out the amount of people that 100% wouldn't be able to work or have a need for it there clearly is still a large gap to fill

[monsterfucker-lisa-swallows]

autistic people have trouble getting and keeping jobs. if you make it through the screening process without being weeded out for being somehow offputting or for being too honest about your symptoms then you end up buring out quickly or getting fired for the symptoms you have. i've had jobs where i almost got fired for my social "deficits" while i was being targeted and bullied by the people reporting me. my current job is great but i can't decide if i should come forward about my dyspraxia which is causing me some trouble when i need to bag fish or crickets for customers. my girlfriend doesn't work at all because of how difficult it is to find a job that will even take her on and don't get me started on explaining any "employment gaps". i can't work more than part time without getting burned out and i'm perpetually poor but considered too high functioning to get a disability benefit. there are many countries that won't accept an immigrant with an autism diagnosis so i'm grateful my diagnosis isn't on my official file so it can't count against me. any time something happens it's still my fault. if i try to explain myself, i'm making excuses. autism will never be destigmatized so long as it's still acceptable to exclude us and push us into poverty

Don't tell me any of u guys actually think autism is a "destigmatized disorder"

[johnlocked1827384]

Time to play another game of apply for jobs and be brutally reminded of the autism employment gap

[k12academics]

The Atlantis Academy L.I.F.E. Program (Living Independently with Fundamental Experiences) teaches young adults over the age of 18 with autism spectrum and related disabilities the necessary skills they need to live a more independent life both in the home and in the workplace.

The L.I.F.E. Program is an intensive, post-secondary program experience that helps young adults bridge the gap between school and employment. Participants can expect a blend of classroom instruction, work experience, and social enrichment opportunities to help equip them for the real world. Students of the L.I.F.E. Program benefit from services unique to our program, and gain new skill sets that prepare them for the next chapter of their lives.

[okurightsmatter]

Letter: AIDA and Allies Urge Legal Protection for OKU in Hiring Process and Workplace

Aida (Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group), along with our allies, express deep disappointment over the remarks made by Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar at the 16 October press conference held at the Parliament building.

“The country’s laws on workplace discrimination cover persons with disabilities as well, and there is no need to enact specific legislation for this group,” he said.

The Minister’s statement reflects a lack of understanding and acknowledgment of the systemic barriers faced by persons with diverse disabilities in job search, recruitment and employment.

He further substantiated his statement by pointing out that the government had only received eight reported cases up to 30 September, none of which involved discrimination faced by employees with disabilities.

In response to the Minister’s statement, we raise four key points:

1. OKU Exclusion in the Hiring Process

Persons with disabilities consistently face exclusion during the hiring process, battling biases and discrimination from the outset. Long-standing government failure to address this problem perpetuates the systemic issue, leaving disabled persons marginalised.

With this bias in the hiring process, many persons with disabilities are forced to hide their disability for fear of being discriminated against. A case in point: a blind university graduate with first-class honours was handed RM50 and told to go home when he showed up in person for a job interview that he had been shortlisted for.

Global data show that 80 to 90 per cent of working-age persons with disabilities are unemployed in developing countries. Yet, Malaysian data regarding the employment status of persons with disabilities are not available in the public domain, and are not disaggregated by gender, age, and disability.

The poverty of Malaysian data obscures the true extent of issues faced by persons with diverse disabilities in the job search, recruitment, employment, and job retention process.

2. 1% OKU Public Sector Employment Mandated

The implementation of Malaysia’s commitment to hiring 1 per cent of persons with disabilities in the civil service is a dismal failure. Except for the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, this mandate remains unfulfilled.

In 2021, it was reported that only 0.35 per cent of employees in the civil service were persons with disabilities, much lower than the targeted 1 per cent quota for the public sector.

Government inability to meet its own policy target raises serious concerns regarding its commitment to inclusivity as demonstrated via disability inclusion.

The Minister missed seizing the opportunity to address the real issue: the absence of reported cases of workplace discrimination against persons with diverse disabilities is actually indicative of the fact that most of us are not getting employed in the first place.

3. Critical Amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2008

Malaysia urgently needs comprehensive amendments to empower persons with disabilities and uphold and protect our rights.

We stress the urgent need for the:

Establishment of a disability tribunal to ensure affordable and disabled-friendly access to justice;

Appointment of an independent disability commissioner with authority to track implementation and enforcement and troubleshoot gaps in the building and strengthening of disability-related multi-ministerial coordination and cooperation;

Introduction and implementation of legal provisions for the rights of women and girls with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities have distinct needs and rights. The Employment Act, as it stands, does not suffice for protecting and upholding the rights of persons with disabilities in the entire process of job search, recruitment, employment and continuous learning and career advancement.

4. Claim of Only 8 Reported Cases, None Involved Discrimination Against Disabled Employees

This claim is based on serious flaws in logic and understanding of the depth and pervasive impact of discriminatory practices. The lived reality is that most persons with disabilities acquiesce in the face of discrimination.

Many of us are enslaved by widespread discriminatory practices. We have little choice and no experience of access to justice when we experience discrimination. Most of us do not have a basic grasp of legal literacy.

Since the country’s independence, mechanisms for reporting discrimination cannot be accessed by persons with disabilities. This fact can no longer be ignored in 21st century Malaysia.

Consider the following case studies that we received in our collective advocacy efforts.

A. Person with Invisible Disability, Aged 36

In a virtual job interview, everything appeared promising as the interviewer expressed immediate interest and promised an offer letter. However, during the interview, she had no chance to disclose her long-term medication and therapy for depression.

After receiving the offer letter and proactively disclosing her condition, the employer rescinded the offer, citing inexperience with employees dealing with depression.

This incident sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions in Malaysia’s job market.

B. Deaf Person, Wheelchair User with Cerebral Palsy, Aged 37

He had been employed by a company for four years. Unfortunately, the building where he worked was not wheelchair user-friendly, and there was no accessible toilet (OKU toilet) on the same level as his workstation.

This meant he had to go downstairs whenever he needed to use the toilet. When he requested improved accessibility, his request was denied, and he was subsequently asked to leave the company.

To make matters worse, he was not paid his salary for the last month before termination. He couldn’t manage to go through with the process of filing a formal complaint due to the lack of accessible transportation and the inability to travel independently.

He was also discouraged from reporting to the authorities, as cases such as his were deemed of no priority and tended to remain unresolved.

The fear of being penalized for being disabled is real. It is well-grounded in the experiences of many persons with disabilities.

We urge the Government to initiate open and extensive consultations with stakeholders and the public to ensure that amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Act include comprehensive employment-related provisions.

These provisions must genuinely reflect the experiences and needs of persons with disabilities, and be harmonised with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that Malaysia ratified in 2010.

The Human Resources Minister could play a historic role by acquiring a holistic understanding of the systemic problems obstructing the employment of persons with disabilities and proposing the legal provisions for their removal.

Failure to enact meaningful legislative amendments would perpetuate the exclusion and discrimination faced by persons with disabilities, who are estimated to be 16 per cent of the Malaysian population.

Signatories:

Beatrice Leong, autistic adult; Founder of AIDA (Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group)

Ch’ng B’ao Zhong, autistic adult; licensed and registered counsellor

Raul Lee Bhaskaran, ADHD individual; lawyer, civil rights activist

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS, person with dyslexia; child-disability activist; advisor, National Early Childhood Intervention Council; advisor, National Family Support Group for Children and People with Special Needs; member, The OKU Rights Matter Project

Anthony Chong, PhD, Deaf person; Co-Founder and Secretary, Deaf Advocacy and Well-being National Council (Dawn), Malaysia

Moses Choo, Blind person; former member, Majlis Kebangsaan Orang Kurang Upaya (MBOKU) 2016-2021; independent consultant on information and communications technology for Blind persons and persons with Low Vision

Dr Lim Tien Hong, Blind person; disability rights activist

San Yuenwah, person with invisible disability, care partner, disability rights advocate; member, Harapan OKU Law Reform Group; member, The OKU Rights Matter Project

Dr Naziaty Yaacob, polio survivor and person with multiple disabilities; accessibility and mobility advisor-cum-trainer; former member, Majlis Kebangsaan Orang Kurang Upaya (MBOKU) 2008-2012; and former Associate Professor of architecture, University of Malaya

Meera Samanther, former President of Association of Women Lawyers (AWL) and Women’s Aid Organisation; Executive Committee member of AWL; member, Harapan OKU Law Reform Group; and parent advocate, disability and gender activist

Ng Lai-Thin, care partner and Project Lead, National Early Childhood Intervention Council; and member, The OKU Rights Matter Project

Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)

The OKU Rights Matter Project

Dr Zahilah Filzah Zulkifli, Consultant Paediatrician; President, Malaysian Advocate for Child Health; autism consultant with AT-Autism, SPELL lead trainer

Prof Dr Ramiza Ramza Ramli, Chairman, USM Early Intervention Center (UNEIC); and Chairman, USM Autism Society

Dr Mohd Iqbal Iyen, Paediatrician, Jesselton Medical Centre, Kota Kinabalu

Dr Intan Juliana Abd Hamid, Consultant Paediatrician (Immunology and Allergy), Institut Perubatan dan Pergigian Termaju, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dr Fahisham Taib, Consultant Paediatrician, Senior Lecturer, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dr Syed Abdul Khaliq Syed Abd Hamid, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, An-Nur Specialist Hospital, Bangi

Penang Independent Living Association for the Disabled (PILAD)

Datin Anit Kaur Randhawa, parent advocate; member, Harapan OKU Law Reform Group; member, The OKU Rights Matter Project

Dr Alvin Ng Lai Oon, Professor, Department of Psychology, Sunway University; mental health advocate

Mohd Zaqrul Razmal bin Mohd Podzi, Consultant Paediatrician, Mawar Medical Centre, 70400 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

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Special Educational Services: Bridging the Gap for Every Learner

In today’s diverse and inclusive society, providing equitable educational opportunities for all students is paramount. Special educational services play a crucial role in ensuring that students with disabilities or special needs receive the support they need to succeed academically and socially. This blog explores the various aspects of special educational services, their importance, and how they are transforming lives.

Understanding Special Educational Services

Special educational services are designed to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities, learning difficulties, or other special needs. These services encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, including individualized education programs (IEPs), specialized instruction, and related services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling.

Key Components of Special Educational Services

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs): An IEP is a personalized plan developed for each student with a disability. It outlines the specific goals, accommodations, and services required to support the student’s learning and development. IEPs are created collaboratively by educators, parents, and specialists, ensuring that the student’s unique needs are addressed comprehensively.

Specialized Instruction: Tailored teaching strategies and methods are employed to help students with special needs access the general education curriculum. This may include differentiated instruction, small group teaching, and the use of assistive technology.

Related Services: Beyond academic instruction, students may require additional support services. Speech therapy helps students with communication disorders, while occupational therapy assists those with fine motor skills challenges. Counseling services provide emotional and behavioral support, promoting overall well-being.

Inclusive Education: Inclusion is a fundamental principle of special educational services. It involves integrating students with disabilities into general education classrooms, allowing them to learn alongside their peers. Inclusive education fosters social interaction, reduces stigma, and promotes a sense of belonging.

The Importance of Special Educational Services

Equity in Education: Special educational services ensure that all students, regardless of their abilities, have access to quality education. This promotes equity, allowing every student to reach their full potential.

Holistic Development: These services address not only academic needs but also social, emotional, and physical development. Students receive comprehensive support, enabling them to thrive in all aspects of life.

Empowerment and Independence: By providing the necessary tools and support, special educational services empower students to become independent learners. This builds self-confidence and prepares them for future success in higher education, employment, and daily living.

Family Involvement: Special educational services encourage active participation from families. Parents and guardians are integral partners in the education process, contributing to the development and implementation of IEPs and supporting their child’s progress.

Success Stories: Transforming Lives

The impact of special educational services is evident in countless success stories. For example, students with autism who receive early intervention and tailored instruction often make significant strides in communication and social skills. Children with dyslexia who receive specialized reading programs can overcome their challenges and achieve academic success. These stories highlight the transformative power of special educational services.

Conclusion

Special educational services are a vital component of an inclusive and equitable education system. They ensure that every student, regardless of their abilities or challenges, receives the support they need to succeed. By fostering a collaborative approach involving educators, specialists, and families, these services bridge the gap for learners, empowering them to reach their full potential. As we continue to advocate for inclusive education, the importance of special educational services cannot be overstated. They are not just services; they are lifelines that transform lives and build a brighter future for all students.

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Community Support Services For Disability

Community Support Services For Disability is a form of long term support and services (LTSS) that helps people with disabilities live their best life. This type of support focuses on empowering the individual to gain skills that will help them reach their goals, whether that is finding a job, learning to cook, or getting out more into the community. It is important to remember that self-determination and self-advocacy are key parts of this process.

A large number of community support services are available for people with disabilities. Some of these services include residential, sheltered employment and home and community support services. These services are often free or low cost. Many of them are offered through the Department of Health and Human Services, New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities or community-based agencies.

Home and Community Support Services provide a variety of assistance with household tasks and personal care to help people live at home independently. This includes respite, homemaker and attendant services, as well as specialized supports for people with complex needs such as autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or multiple sclerosis.

Many of the services that are offered through the OPWDD are center-based and provide an array of activities, including vocational training in various areas such as cooking, art, or computer skills. These programs are designed to help individuals develop the skills necessary for gaining employment in the community, and transportation is provided for these activities.

Another important form of community support is peer support. Peer support groups are a great way for people with disabilities to learn new things, make friends, and socialize. They can also be a great source of information about services and resources in the community. These support groups are often run by local organizations, or by family members and caregivers who know someone with a disability.

This review found that, in general, there are gaps in access to community support for persons with disabilities, particularly in LMIC contexts. Some of these gaps are due to lack of recognition by key actors that people with disabilities have specific priorities for community support, or that formal and informal strategies and interventions exist for addressing these priorities. The review further found that there is a need for more attention to the role of community-based rehabilitation and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in the assessment of needs for, and the development and provision of, community support.

The most significant gap identified in this literature is a clear understanding of the definition of community support and its importance for achieving community inclusion for persons with disabilities. This definition would allow for the identification of key stakeholders, their roles in community support, and a comprehensive examination of the effectiveness of interventions. This approach is critical to ensuring that the needs of persons with disabilities are addressed in all aspects of community life. In addition, it is essential that community support services are flexible and can be adapted to changing circumstances.

My Horizon Community Services was created for people with special needs, friends and families who need a better way to access individualised disability support. We provide a wide range of tailored, flexible and quality disability services and support coordination for people living with disabilities for their choice and needs. We are based in Brisbane, Queensland.