How we think about disability

For most of the world, the wheelchair is the accepted symbol or indicative icon for disability. Of more than 4 million people in Australia living with disability, more than a quarter have a mental illness as their primary disability and there are many more people who experience disabilities with no visible symptoms.

Growth of mental health disability

The face of disability is changing and it’s important for us as an organisation to educate employers and work with people to ensure they have the right level of support. In 2019, we worked with XXX people with disabilities that include: mental Illness, intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injuries, Autism, learning disabilities or communication disorders.
We also worked with a broad range of other disabilities that have varying visible physical symptoms, but are not visibly obvious such as Crohn’s disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and chronic pain. For employers, this can be a difficult concept to navigate. The impact of a mental illness or an intellectual disability will vary from person to person and for many, they may be experiencing multiple health concerns at the same time.

Importance of understanding as an employee

When applying for work, there can be a reluctance for some people to disclose their disability because of the fear it may affect their chances of securing a job or that they might be treated differently.
By upskilling managers and peers with the right training and knowledge, businesses can make applicants feel more positive from the outset, managers more disability confident and employees across the organisation know that their employer will support them.
Fortunately, awareness is improving. As the number of people self-reporting mental illness increases, so does our understanding. As we look ahead to the next decade and beyond, we need to help businesses evolve and increase capability to support employees at all levels of business.