Overcoming the misconceptions and stereotypes
By Suzanne Colbert, CEO of the Australian Network on Disability, for DCA's Diversity Matters June 2010.
Disability confidence is about knowing how to make adjustments to the workplace to retain employees who acquire a disability, and how to make changes to recruitment processes to allow skilled and talented jobseekers with disability to compete on a level playing field. Disability confidence is also about delivering accessible customer service that provides a great experience to customers who may have disability.
Some 20% of the Australian population, around four million people, has a disability. However, despite having as many skills and attributes and as much talent and enthusiasm as people without disability, people with a disability still struggle to gain and retain employment. In 2003, the employment rate for those with a disability aged between 15 and 64 years was 53%, compared to 81% for those who did not have a disability. Research from the Graduate Destination Survey shows that in 2001, 93% of all graduates obtained employment, the highest figure since 1990. However, only 68.3% of graduates with a disability obtained employment. Why is this still happening?
