I was made redundant at the end of last year and I’m now looking for work and applying for jobs. Many ask the question “Do you consider yourself disabled?” and many say they operate a guaranteed interview scheme if you are disabled and meet the minimum criteria for the job.
So far I have been reluctant to call myself disabled as I don’t really consider that I am, although I know we are covered by the DDA. My friends, however, think I should use everything at my disposal, including “disability”, to try and get an interview and hopefully lead to a job in this current difficult climate.
Somehow though, I feel a bit guilty playing the BC card as there are many people obviously more disabled than me - the most I get is stiffness in my arm if I use it too much.
Has anyone else been in this situation? What did you decide to do? Any help would be most appreciated.
Thank you.
You’re right that you are covered under the Disability Discrimination Act in that no-one can discriminate against you because you have a diagnosis of cancer.
However, to be ‘registered’ disabled you would have to show that there were parts of a job that you couldn’t undertake but yet again they would have to make reasonable changes if they thought you were ideal for the job.
I don’t know what disability you may have but in my circumstances I have secondaries to the spine that limit me to sitting for any length of time plus other complications which don’t make working a viable option.
There is a really grey area here I think. From what you say you would definitely be classed as disabled and “reasonable” adjustments would have to made for you to be able to work.
My position is different. I have had all the initial treatments since dx in 2005, I take tamoxifen and do not have secondaries. However, I’m still covered by DDA and after an occ health assessment in my old job I was given a special mouse, keyboard and chair so that I could work more comfortably and not cause too much stiffness in my arm - I find if I do too much computer work with a mouse using my right hand my shoulder becomes very stiff within a short time. But compared to others I really don’t see myself as “disabled”, I just have slight limitations. I’m not “registered” disabled nor do I need to be, but under DDA technically I can consider myself disabled. I do voluntary work for a BC charity at the moment which entails computer work but I just use my left hand to avoid problems.
My main quandary is whether I declare my “disability” on application forms, which means in some cases that I may be more likely to get an initial interview. I see this as some kind of “cheating” but I just wondered whether anyone else had had a similar situation and how they approached it? Sometimes you have to say something, as they ask How many days off sick you have had over a certain period of time so when I put down the number of days I have to explain why that was.
Sorry if I’m rambling on, I’m not sure I’m explaining myself very well!
Look at it from the other way. What if you got the job and then found that there were some things which were difficult for you eg lifting or carrying. It would be difficult to ask for “reasonable adjustments” if you hadn’t declared your “disability” on the application form.
I recently had Disability Discrimination training in my job as a teacher. I spoke to one of the trainers about my problems and she told me I needed to let my head know, it was my responsibility to let him know how he could make it easier for me to cope with my problems (mainly lymphoedema and osteoarthritis caused by treatment).
Kelley
I agree with Kelley it is much harder to ask for adjustments later. My view is that is it is better to declare and be upfront about your situation. You mention that you do get stiffness which a manager would cetainly need to be aware as it could cause problems further down the line on some jobs.
I have dealt with quite a few situations where people have not declared stuff and has caused serious problems that could have been avoided.
Whatever you decide to do when you get a job make sure your line manager is aware of any potential problems and that you do come under the DDA. Where I work the line maagers are asked to have such a conversation and confirm in writing so that it is clear should anything occur in the future. Protection for both employee and employer!!
At the end of the day you are not using BC to get a job only a helping hand to get to the interview stage. In any case you probably may not know whether you got there on your own merits anyway.
Also since the DDA there is no “registered disabled”. It is up to the individual in declaring to say whether they think they meet the definition. A grey area for some but not in our case!
Thank you very much Flora and Kelley for your sound advice. I will definitely keep it in mind. I’m sure it would be difficult to suddenly say you need this, that or the other adjustments made once you get into a job - even from the point of view of hosp appts for the routine mammogram or to get something checked out. My last employer was very good about everything and I had been there 25 years, so it’s a brand new thing for me, this job-hunting lark! So many changes have gone on in that time.
I think it’s quite difficult to know what to say as I had absolutely no idea how i would manage being back at work and how my illness would affect me. i’d never had cancer before or had a huge operation before and i just wanted to be back to “normal”, which of course i was never going to be. however what i did say was resolutely ignored, and my Occ Health department made no attempt to request any information from my GP or cancer specialist or to find out what my job actually entailed. my requests for retraining and support were also ignored. i was told by my union rep that “cancer isn’t a disability”, so no help there…and my boss resolutely pretended not to know my diagnosis in spite of the fact that i’d told her and we’d discussed it several times…so my advice would be to document everything, keep notes of what you’ve said and who you said it to, your employer may not be like mine but it’s best not to be too trusting…
Catkin, that sounds as though you were treated terribly. Cancer is covered by the Disability Discrimination act, whether you are receiving treatment now or have done in the past it makes no difference - you are covered. I have decided that if an application form asks, I will state that I am disabled - better that than something happening later and the employer saying “why didn’t you tell us…” I have to go to hosp next week anyway to get stiffness in shoulder/armpit assessed and hopefully sorted out. Time off for hosp visits is counted as a reasonable adjustment that employers may should make as we do have to pop back to get things checked from time to time.
Glad you have made a decision. I expect it feels better now and you can get on and fill in those forms. Good luck with the job hunting and hope you get lots of interviews.
Having this disease leeds us into new and unfamiliar territory.
All the best for you hospital appts next week and hope they can help sort it out.
Hi all,
Just intreasted so would I be classed as disabled??
I am having chemo atm and facing surgery some time in June/July.
I wonder would we be eligible for a blue badge???
If I would then I will apply for one.
Thanks in advance Caron xxx
I was told by my bcn that when you get chemo you automatically qualify for a blue badge. I filled out the form and gave it to my bcn to sign and sent it off with a passport photo.
My blue badge has been a God send, i could hardly walk the length of me when i was on chemo. I went into a superstore and my OH had to put me in a wheelchair as i was just so knackered by the chemo.
Aww thanks Vodka for that , I will apply for one then.
Shame my BCN never told me that ! ( could have got one 3 months ago).
thanks again much love Caron x
It’s not correct that you automatically qualify for a blue badge when you have chemo. You can get a blue badge if you are unable to walk a certain distance (can’t remember what it is) either unaided or not at all. My mother has one as she has Parkinson’s and walks with a stick, can’t manage stairs, etc. I did n’t qualify for one, even during treatment. I was a bit slow on some days (because I was knackered) but I could walk fine.