Why I Talk About Entrepreneurship During National Disability Employment Awareness Month

This week I started a Twitter campaign to discuss National Disability Employment Month, where I discussed my various interviewing experiences as a disabled applicant.

The feedback I heard from my community was absolutely astounding and heartbreaking. We all have very similar experiences when it comes to employment. For National Disability Employment Awareness Month, here’s a statistic:

“Employment in 2019 for persons with a disability was 19.3 percent, little changed from 19.1 percent in 2018. The ratio for persons without a disability is at 66.3 percent.”

That needs to change. We have work to do. My followers from Claiming Disability, Inc, an organization I run as a disabled entrepreneur that works to educate, empower, and advocate for people with disabilities, were shocked by this statistic. But honestly, things have not changed much since my last article with regard to employment.

The first tweet I have provided is probably one of the most “felt” tweets of the disabled community. In 2015, there was a study done by Rutgers University involving the use of two fake resumes. In one, the person disclosed they had a disability. Employers were about 34 percent less likely to show interest in an equally experienced disabled candidate.

In 15′ there was a study done by Rutgers University involving the use of 2 fake resumes, one the person disclosed they had a disability Employers were about 34 percent less likely to show interest in an experienced disabled candidate.
Disabled people everywhere ???? pic.twitter.com/POyBQ430XD

— Claiming Disability,Inc (@ClaimingInc) October 8, 2020

Disabled people everywhere acknowledge this disparity, and yet, people with disabilities are still being overlooked and rejected for employment.

The second tweet discusses the physical discrimination that can occur when you are a disabled interviewee. As revealed in the tweet, I have received standard inquires when I use a headshot that “hides” my disability. This bias needs to be acknowledged.

LinkedIn Profile Picture:
Photo 1: Lots of inquiries, offers, connection, requests. Etc pretty standard stuff.
Photo 2: *crickets*
Similarly with dating profiles
Potential dates: We’ll be touch #NDEAM pic.twitter.com/GEYrPpRmNH

— Claiming Disability,Inc (@ClaimingInc) October 9, 2020

The third tweet demonstrates the COVID telecommunications conundrum. Before COVID, disabled employees were begging employers to consider remote options, but now that COVID is here, this option is accessible to almost everyone. Now, I’m thankful this accessibility change has been made, but it’s frustrating that disabled employees advocating for remote work before the pandemic were often ignored and brushed off.

COVID & telecommunications:
Disabled people: You can do grant writing from home, tech work, fundraising, etc.
Employer: Absolutely not
Disabled people: *Doesn’t push it further, Doesn’t want to lose job*
COVID happens
Employer: You know its simple to do your job from home #NDEAM pic.twitter.com/YoqJ5Xj85n

— Claiming Disability,Inc (@ClaimingInc) October 9, 2020

We must keep having these conversations regarding disability and employment or nothing will change. I am a disabled entrepreneur, and I believe if you feel you cannot seek gainful employment as a disabled person, entrepreneurship is the way to go, especially when people with disabilities are full of ingenuity, leadership skills, and the ability to adapt to many situations.