1st March - Zero Discrimination Day

Unfortunately, discrimination occurs worldwide and can affect anyone for a variety of reasons. On this Zero Discrimination Day, we are celebrating the movement launched by UNAIDS and the United Nations to support the push to ‘end inequalities’.

Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace, and, above all, a movement for change. Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination.

At Ways into Work our mission is to support disadvantaged people, most often people with a disability, into employment so discrimination around disability is a topic dear to our hearts. Disability discrimination occurs when a person with a disability is treated unequally, less favourably, or not given the same opportunities as other people because of their disability. We feel discrimination often arises though, due to a lack of knowledge or understanding so we work hard to inform and empower people working alongside those with a disability … more on that later … for now let’s instead focus on abilities, not disabilities …

Focus on abilities, not disabilities

Previously, many people with disabilities have been defined by their disability rather than by what ability they bring to the table. The social model of disability is a way of viewing the world that was developed by disabled people and its roots began back in the 1970s with the disability rights movement. The model says that people are disabled by the barriers in society, not by their impairment or differences. In broad terms there are 3 types of barriers; attitude, environmental and institutional and the model suggests that when barriers are removed, people with disabilities can be independent and equal in society. 

For example, environmental barriers could be physical, like buildings not having accessible toilets, or they can be caused by people's attitudes to difference, like assuming disabled people cannot do certain things. The social model helps us recognise barriers that make life harder for disabled people. Removing these barriers creates equality and offers disabled people more independence, choice, and control. 

Equality in the workplace is all about individuality

One area that disabled individuals can be discriminated against is in the workplace. Unlike, many instances of discrimination, workplace discrimination towards those who have disabilities or other workplace barriers is often not intentional.

Some people have perceptions that those with disabilities cannot work, but for the majority of individuals, this is completely false.  In fact one of the main barriers for those with a disability is not the work or role itself, it is the recruitment process and this can be so easily addressed. For many job seekers, there are simple, easy, and very reasonable adjustments that can be made by Employers to the recruitment process or a job role to ensure they are not discriminating against any individuals. For example, by providing a work trial rather than a work interview where someone can physically demonstrate they can do the tasks involved.