Dentist, Shona Sawhney, shares her story of being diagnosed with connective tissue disorder in dental school. She talks about her clinical experience starting to be affected in year 3 when she noticed day-to-day changes in function, which turned worse later on when she developed swelling and seizures. Those that have applied to dental school know the struggles and amount of hard work, discipline and commitment that you have put in to get a place. Most because of how competitive is and how many incredibly smart and dedicated people apply. Once in dental school to be told that you should think of another career must be heart wrenching. This is what happened to Shone when her Neurologist told her that she should be thinking of another career.
“To have a disability does not mean you miss ability”
But she didn’t give up and with the support from the dental school she was able to dream again of completing her dream. Small adjustments like seeing oral surgery patient in the afternoon instead of the morning made a huge difference and meant that her body and mind were ready to carry out the task. Also, she speaks of focusing on what you can do instead of what you can’t was an essential mind shift towards success. With such changes Shona completed dental school and continues her passion to helping the communities around her as a dentist.
Outside the dental surgery, marketing manager at Bupa dental care, Jessica Moore, talks about living with Brittle bone disease (Osteogenesis imperfecta) and continuing her career path despite medical challenges. She has had more than 100 fractures through life and countless surgeries to support her bones. People living with long term conditions fear about the way they will be perceived and the support they will receive from work including adjustments or time off for regular doctors appointments. She shares ensuring that meetings are held in place fully accessible by her workplace or even more having checklist system where those with accessible needs can flag them prior to attending meetings can be of great help and foster inclusivity.
There are so many benefits of hiring people with disabilities for companies but for the individual as well:
- Inclusive work culture
- Awareness of disability
- Creative problem solving
- Better staff retention as people with disabilities tend stay in one place longer periods of time
- Saving hiring and training a new employee by retaining an experienced employee with disability
- Increased self-confidence and quality of life
- Sense of community
- Source of income
Total number of people of working age (16-64) who reported that they are disabled = 10.21 million
Who is in employment?
8 in 10 non-disabled vs 5 in 10 all people with disabilities
Half of people with disabilities (approximately 5 million) are missing out on the independence, development of social networks and reduction of income related stress associated that having a job provides. And importantly we all, as a nation, are missing out on valuable workforce and most importantly on exploring the numerous benefits associated with increasing employment diversity.
So, what are the barriers?
What are challenges to hiring people with disability?
In a study carried out by the Institute of Leadership and Management, half of the managers expressed their worries to hiring disabled people such as:
- How much it costs to make workplace adjustments (69%)
- How easy it is to make workplace adjustments (67%)
- Accessibility of the application process (44%)
- Concern over the ability to do the job (29%)
- Concern over possibility of mistreatment by other employees (11%).
According to the government’s website making reasonable adjustment involves little or no and Access to Work can help towards costs.
Things that dental practices can do to promote inclusive work environments:
- Reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities or health conditions
- changing the recruitment process so that prospective employee can be considered for the job
- altering working environment from a hot desk to own desk for someone with an anxiety disorder for example
- providing training or mentoring
- encourage participation in workshop and team discussions around disability
- making alterations to premises
- ensuring that information is provided in accessible formats
- modifying or acquiring equipment
- allowing extra time during selection ‘tests’
Resources
Qualifying as a dentist with disability https://dentistry.co.uk/2020/11/18/qualifying-dentist-disability/
Everyone has a part to play: creating inclusive workplaces
https://dentistry.co.uk/2024/09/26/everyone-has-a-part-to-play-creating-inclusive-workplaces/
Employing disabled people and people with health conditions