Disability in the workplace: Georgie’s Story

A recent study by healthcare provider Bupa found that two in five (43%) employees with a less visible disability haven’t disclosed it to their employer.

This got us thinking. Half the team at Bamboo has a disability. Have they felt comfortable enough to talk about their disabilities at work?

Let’s find out.

Here’s Georgie’s story.

What disability do you have?

My disability is called Stickler's Syndrome and I was born with it. Basically, my body is lacking in collagen. It affects my ears, eyes, nose, throat, and joints.

I was born with a cleft palate, and I had surgery to repair it three times. This is also part of the Syndrome: I had surgeries at 10 months, 13 and 16 years old. I also had facial reconstruction beginning at age 17 due to a lack of cartilage and bone in my nose.

One of my ribs was removed to build it up.

How does your disability affect you?

My ears and eyes are underdeveloped due to the lack of collagen, which means I have both visual and hearing impairments. It also causes my bones and joints to hurt. On the upside, the lack of collagen means I'm super flexible!

Also, now I'm older, a lot of my joints, such as my wrists, hips, and knees regularly pop out.

How do you manage your conditions?

I don't take medication for any of my ailments.

Have you disclosed your disabilities to employers?

My mother told me to keep quiet about my disabilities once I got into a work environment. However, I did reveal my disabilities to a former employer and regretted doing so.

Why?

I was discriminated against for my hearing impairment. My colleagues were horrible. They purposely spoke quietly around me and told me off when I didn't hear what they'd said. It dented my confidence.

What did you do about the discrimination?

Due to my lack of confidence and the health problems my family was experiencing, I didn’t hold the nursery accountable. I held my tongue, kept my head down, and got on with my job.

However, I had the opposite experience at Bamboo.

Graham (Bamboo Co-Founder) has a disability of his own and disclosed some difficulties he’s experienced, which made me feel comfortable telling him about my own. He inspired me to open up and advocate for myself.

What can employers do to support people with the same condition as you at work?

It doesn’t require a huge amount of adjustment. For me, (due to my sight issues), a games monitor is ideal, (as the screen is larger than a standard laptop screen) and a large font is a must.  

Also, due to my impaired hearing, I need people to speak loudly and clearly.

If someone discloses a disability, the team needs to have a basic understanding of the condition and how it affects the person. They also need to be patient and understanding.

What advice would you give someone with your condition when applying for jobs? Should they be open about the condition to potential employers?

I’d say be honest, and don’t let your disability define you!