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Hello. My name is Joanna Wootten Today is Saturday
and I've just watched a you-tube clip exposing disability discrimination in the workplace
If you are hearing, you will be able to hear that I am profoundly deaf
This means that I cannot hear on the telephone, rely on lipreading
and often use sign language interpreters in the workplace
Watching the clip has inspired me to make
my first ever home made you-tube clip in the loft of my home.
This is because watching the clip made me angry and upset
I have had these problems in the past and so have my friends in the past and now
However, at the same time, I thought: Joanna remember that there are many good companies
and good employers I know this because of my work
I work with the Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD) EFD works with organisations which are members
They are members for 2 main reasons. One they want to show that they value disabled people as employees and customers
Secondly because sometimes it's not always easy to get it right
and they need our support and we can support them
For example, we have an in house recruitment expert Plus we've been advising on disability for 20 years
EFD would not exist without the support and commitment of its members
Which shows that the world is not all bad
I know that the employers that are our members may not be perfect
But who is perfect? But I do know that they really want to try to get it right
They really want to recruit and keep disabled people
For example, I know of one employer that has specifically targeted people with autism
Another employer has a training and development programme specifically for disabled people
to encourage their career aspirations
Many people have low expectations of disabled people. This means that disabled people then have low expectations
I think it's fantastic that there are companies out there working to change that mentality
I truly applaud them
I've met many disabled people who've told me how fantastic their employers are
How they've encouraged them, mentored them and really encouraged them to go places
I should point out that as well as having targeted schemes, many are really good at mainstreaming opportunities for disabled people
After all not everyone wants to say that they are disabled
or to be treated differently, they just want to get on with it and have a job like everyone else
Like everyone, we just want to be treated fairly
and given the opportunity If you are disabled and looking for a job, and finding it difficult
why not try applying to one of the companies
that's a member of the Employers' Forum on Disability?
You can find a list on www.efd.org.uk Yes, discrimination is wrong. It's disgusting I think
But it is important to remember that many companies want to get it right
We should support them Let's apply for jobs with them
Let them benefit from our talent and commitment