What Is A Disability Carer?

A disability support worker is a carer for disabled people, who provides care and support to someone who has some sort of disability. Carers can work with physically and mentally disabled people. Disability support workers provide support to a disabled person within their home and provide assistance with several aspects of their lives, including but not limited to:

• Employment
• Recreational support
• Education
• Training
• Movement
• Everyday household tasks

Disability Carer’s Characteristics

Not everyone can become a disability carer and a support worker must have certain personality requirements to be well suited for their role as a disability support worker. Some of the commonly expected characteristics are:

• The knowledge that disabled people have the same rights as everyone else
• Knowing that disabled people deserve to be treated with the same respect as everyone else
• Must have a genuinely caring nature
• Must be prepared for hard, sometimes mentally exhausting work
• Must be strongly focussed on human rights
• Must be committed to social justice

Disability Caring Workers: Employment Opportunities

Disability support workers usually aid a disabled person with their daily living needs. Some people continue to be disability carers all their lives, while others do consider other opporunities within the field. After starting out as a disability worker, support workers have a variety of other employment opportunities available to them such as:

• Working at a home for disabled people
• Community workers
• Child care assistant
• Working in government organizations dealing with disabled people and their rights
• Recreation therapist
• Disability counselors
• Welfare worker

Not everyone is cut out to be a disability support worker, but if you think you can handle the pressure and would like a job in which you make a difference to someone’s life on a daily basis, then this might be the career of choice for you.

When struck with a sudden disability, many are not sure how to deal with or what to do as they are now disabled and unable to work. For times such as these, a disability insurance may be helpful. This type of insurance helps you out with a basic regular income while you recover from your disability.

Federal Government Insurance For Disability

Most developed countries provide disability insurance from the federal government. Both short and long term disability are covered. In the USA, disability insurance is part of it’s Social Security and claimants either receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Disability insurance provided by the government is available to all American citizens and is a luxurious safety net. It is especially beneficial for those who do not have disability insurance or are under insured with a private insurance company. Government funded disability insurance will not provide you with large amounts of money but atleast it will prevent you from sinking into poverty while you recover from your disability and cannot work.

The Social Security Disability Insurance is available to “insured” citzens aka those citizens who have paid all their taxes and have been in the work force long enough. For those who are “uninsured” and unableto qualify, the goverment provides the Supplemental Security Income on a financial needs basis.

Private Insurance For Disability

Many private insurance providers are encouraging workers to consider disability insurance. These companies provide short term disability insurance as well as long term. By paying a certain fixed amount every month, individuals can be protected against disability.

Each insurance company has different terms and conditions but in the long run, they each provide some sort of protection in the case of the insured being struck by some sort of disability. This is a worthwhile insurance option to consider.

Workers Compensation As Accident Disability Insurance

When individuals suffer work related injuries, they are provided workers’ compensation by their employers. This compensation acts as a sort of disability insurance as well. It not only pays for medical expenses but often takes into consideration loss of income, pay compensation and other general damages. If a worker is killed while on the job, their dependents are entitled to receive certain benefits as well.

While most people do not like to consider disability as a possibility, it may be a wise move to consider disability insurance. While the government does provide SSDI, it does not hurt to be further insured to ensure you and your family’s well being.

Training for Disabled Employees

All disabled people by law have the same access rights to a company’s training programs as do any other individual. It is down to your employer to make sure that you are not stopped from taking part in these training courses just because of your disability. As such the employer should take certain considerations into account when organising training events. They should be sure that:

• They provide adequate training for any special equipment that is to be used in the workplace.
• If the disabled person is limited to the number of hours they can attend a training course then training should be given over an extended course.
• Re-train employees that have become disabled since taking the job to enable them to remain in their current position.
• Have sign language interpreters available if needed and provide material in different formats.
• Be aware of problems with locations of the training course, for example does it have wheelchair accessibility.

The disability act in the workplace must be taken seriously by your employer and the employer has to make sure that they:

• Make sure that any other staff fully understand the policy towards disabled people and their rights in the workplace.
• Carry out any obligations in the training to make adjustments for disabled employees.
• Set standards within the organisation or workplace by giving examples of good practise.
• Provide accessibility to services for disabled people.
• Make sure all staff who come into contact with the public have disability equality training.

Workplace Disability While Employed

If you are currently working and become disabled for any reason then you have certain rights and your employer will probably keep you in your position but your employer also has to consider the responsibility of the employment arrangements or any features of the workplace that might now put you at a disadvantage because of your disability.

If there are problems then it is your employer’s duty to make reasonable adjustments to the working environment. The disability discrimination act states that it would be within reason for your employer to spend at least as much money on making changes to the working environment as it would cost them to recruit and train a replacement.

Making Workplace Disability Adjustments

Simple and often effective adjustments could include:

• Offering a staggered return to work policy.
• Allocating some of the duties you would find hard to other employees.
• Providing practical aids and tools to help you.
• Moving workstations if you need more room say for wheelchair access.

There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about about being a disabled employee in the workplace. If your employer makes no provisions for your disability, it is important than you have a chat with them about the possibilities and if they are unwilling to make any adjustment for your disability in the workplace, then you can always seek legal action as well.

There are very good reasons for telling the employer about your disabilities because you have certain rights in the workplace due to your disabilities. The disability discrimination act is there to protect a disabled person, which means it is against the law for an employer to discriminate against you in recruiting and choosing an applicant for the job.

Under this act the employer has to consider making reasonable adjustments to the workplace to accommodate the disabled person if need be.

If you choose not to tell the potential employer about your disability then a tribunal could decide that the employer was right in failing to make adjustments if you encounter problems, because your employer didn’t know of your needs beforehand.

When to declare your disability

Bear in mind these points when deciding whether or not to tell a potential employer about your disability.

* If you are asked outright in an interview about your health or any disabilitie’s then you must answer honestly.

* If you fill in any forms and sign a declaration that you do not have a disability then you could face legal problems later.

* Some application forms ask outright questions concerning disability you must answer all the information honestly and give details of the important points regarding your disability.

* Explain how your disability might affect the work you are applying for.

* Focus on your good points and why you are best suited for the job.

* If you feel your disability could help you and have a positive affect in the particular job then state why.

Going for the interview

If you are asked to attend an interview for the job then makes sure the person holding the interview knows of any help you might need such as an interpreter or help needed with access to the building. For instance if the interview is to be held on the top floor is there suitable access for a wheelchair?

The employer will respect you more if you are up front and honest with them in the first place and although it is not a legal requirement for you to disclose your disability beforehand it is much easier if the potential employer or interviewer is prepared.

The interview time should be spent on why you’re the right person for the job not having to answer questions about your disability when you could have answered these questions beforehand so being upfront is always a good idea.

Many employers now have excellent equal opportunities policies regarding the disabled so you may feel more at ease during an interview if this has been discussed beforehand.

What you can do if you think you were treated unfairly

If you think you were unfairly treated during the interview because of your disability then you can make a complaint to an employment tribunal, the tribunal will then:

* Look into the case and decide if they think the employer treated you unjustly and against the law.

* Give recommendations to the employer, for example ask the employer to rethink and employ you or change its policy.

* Ask that the employer pay you compensation.

Disabled workers share the same employment rights as any other worker but there are also special rights under the disability discrimination act, it against the law for any employer to treat a disabled person any differently for a reason that is related to there disability unless there actions can be reasonably justified. The disability discrimination act covers:

* Interviews.

* Application forms.

* Job offers.

* Terms of employment.

* Promotion.

* Training and transfers.

* Access to refreshment or recreation facilities.

* Dismissal.

* Redundancy.

Making reasonable adjustments in the workplace

Under the disability discrimination act the law states that your employer has a duty to consider making changes that are considered reasonable to ensure the disabled person is not put at a disadvantage due to physical features or arrangement in the workplace.

Some of the adjustments that your employer should consider after talking with the disabled person could be:

* Making adjustments to the place you work.

* Provide suitable training or re-training.

* Providing you with modified equipment.

* Making instructions and manuals more accessible.

* Providing an interpreter or reader.

* Allowing flexibility in your work hours.

Important points to consider

Both the employer and the disabled person should work together in deciding what would actually be beneficial in making reasonable adjustments in the workplace; it might also help if your employer spoke with someone who knows about work related help issues for disabled people.

The disability rights commission is on hand to provide both the disabled person and the employer with help regarding whether an adjustment to the workplace would be reasonable or not. Some issues regarding this and what both of you should consider are:

* How effective would the adjustment be.

* Will it reduce the disadvantage significantly or only slightly.

* Would the adjustment cause too much of a disturbance in the workplace.

* Will it help other people in the working environment.

* Is the cost prohibitive.

* Would the adjustment be practical.

Your employer should also be aware that he/she may be able to get grants for assistance in paying towards the cost of any reasonable adjustments that have to be made in the workplace under schemes such as the access to work programme in the United Kingdom and similar projects exist in different countries under slightly different names.

The Access to Work Programme

The access to work programme works with both the employer and the disabled person in finding a solution to problems caused in the workplace caused by practical obstacles.

They can help with such things as special equipment and also give help to the employer for financial costs with such things as making reasonable adjustments within the workplace to accommodate the disabled person within the working environment. It can also help the disabled person with travel costs if they are unable to use public transport.

Filed under: Disabled Employment Rights

If you have a disability and there are problems in the workplace then you have certain rights and support is available for you. Many counties have in place agreements within the workplace for finding solutions to problems in the workplace that can occur and many will work alongside both you and your employer to help resolve these issues.

Training for disabled employees

All disabled people by law have the same access rights to a company’s training programmes as do any other individual. It is down to your employer to make sure that you are not stopped from taking part in these training courses just because of your disability. As such the employer should take certain considerations into account when organising training events. They should be sure that:

* They provide adequate training for any special equipment that is to be used in the workplace.

* If the disabled person is limited to the number of hours they can attend a training course then training should be given over an extended course.

* Re-train employees that have become disabled since taking the job to enable them to remain in their current position.

* Have sign language interpreters available if needed and provide material in different formats.

* Be aware of problems with locations of the training course, for example does it have wheelchair accessibility.

The disability act in the workplace must be taken seriously by your employer and the employer has to make sure that they:

* Makes sure that any other staff fully understand the policy towards disabled people and their rights in the workplace.

* Carry out any obligations in the training to make adjustments for disabled employees.

* Set standards within the organisation or workplace by giving examples of good practise.

* Provide accessibility to services for disabled people.

* Make sure all staff who come into contact with the public have disability equality training.

If you become disabled while you are in work

If you are in work and become disabled for any reason then you have certain rights and your employer will probably keep you in your position but your employer also has to consider the responsibility of the employment arrangements or any features of the workplace that might now put you at a disadvantage because of your disability.

If there are problems then it is your employer’s duty to make reasonable adjustments to the working environment. The disability discrimination act states that it would be within reason for your employer to spend at least as much money on making changes to the working environment as it would cost them to recruit and train a replacement.

Making adjustments

Simple and often effective adjustments could include:

* Offering a staggered return to work policy.

* Allocating some of the duties you would find hard to other employees.

* Providing practical aids and tools to help you.

* Moving workstations if you need more room say for wheelchair access.

Filed under: Disability & Employment

If you are disabled and need extra help when seeking employment then you have the right to speak with a disability employment adviser, the advisor can offer you support and help regardless of your position.

The advisor is there to give you advice on gaining new skills or re training, whether you have been out of work for a long time or just a short while.

What can the disability advisor do?

* If you are finding it difficult to get work because of your disability then an advisor can help you find one.

* The advisor will know suitable jobs and those employers that have a good policy for employing disabled people.

* The advisor will be able to give you advice about any specialised support you may be entitled to receive.

* If you have recently become disabled or your disability has gradually got worse then they will be able to provide specific advice.

* Make the use of occupational therapists specialising in working with disabled people.

You will be able to work closely with the disability employment advisor to help you find work or to enable you to keep your existing job. If you think you might be about to lose the job you already have then an advisor can work with both you and your employer and give advice on practical ways that would help you keep your job.

What services are provided by the advisor?

A disability employment advisor can offer you:

* A complete assessment to identify what work you would be most suited to or the kind of training you might need for finding work.

* Refer you to individually tailored programmes that are specially designed for helping disabled people find work.

* Give you access to programs such as Access to work, Workstep and other job introduction schemes.

* Access to occupational psychologist for a more detailed assessment for the kind of work that is more suitable to your particular needs.

* Information on employers that are known to give positions to disabled people.

Employment assessments

An assessment will bring out your particular skills and strengths to help decide what work you are most suited for applying for, at the end of the assessment you will have a clear plan set out towards steps you can take to achieving your goals.

During the assessment you will be asked to talk about your skills and abilities, your strongest points and talk about any previous work you may have done and also set reasonable goals for the work you are capable of doing now.

You will be asked to carry out practical tasks and some written work which various types of work may involve. After the assessment you and the advisor will agree on a plan of action for which should help you achieve obtaining a position of employment.

Filed under: Disability & Employment