People Are More Disabled by Physical Barriers or Attitudes and Assumptions Than by Bodily Limitations

Day 9: The struggle to gain part-time employment in high school

Image Credit: Made in Canva

The social model of disability states that people are more disabled by physical barriers (access issues) or attitudes and assumptions than by bodily limitations.

Most of the barriers I have experienced are from assumptions — what other people perceived to be the problem, rather than my limitations. I am well aware of my physical limits and know how to work around them.

When I first started to apply for employment, I received knockback after knockback.

“I’d like to study librarianship,” I told my Year Ten guidance counselor.

“Oh, no,” he said. “Books are heavy. Not for the likes of you to lug around. You’ll never cope. Accounting. I’m going to put you down for accounting. If you do get a job, that’s a nice, safe one. Sitting down. Not much movement.”

Account books were NOT the sort of books I was passionate about.

So, I found myself a volunteer position at a library. I thought if I proved myself worthy, the attitudes would change After eight months of Saturday morning volunteering, a part-time position was advertised. A position that had previously been held by library studies students.
At my interview, I was asked about work and study. “I’m going to finish Year 12, then study librarianship. Two nights a week and Saturday morning will fit in perfectly.”

The Head Librarian shook his head. “Maybe for a normal person, perhaps. Your health care is too demanding. You should study first and work later. But the volunteering you do here will be a big help in your studies.”

On the next Saturday morning, I met the person who 'won' the position. One of the Head Librarian’s mates. They sat in his office, chatting while my fingers flicked through the card catalog, searching for interlibrary loans and serving customers.

The same pattern repeated the following week. I didn’t know the term disability discrimination at the time. But I knew that something wasn’t right. I walked out in the middle of my volunteer shift and never returned.

31 Days of Cystic Fibrosis Bonus Fact
​Unlike attitudes and assumptions, CF is not contagious. My superpower pre-transplant was the ability to clear entire supermarket aisles with a single cough, especially during flu season — it was a most effective Social Distancing tool.
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Next in the 31 Days of Cystic Fibrosis series - All the Signs Pointed in One Direction. Not Fit For Work
Despite my bad experience in high school, working in a library was still my dream job — even though I hadn’t yet worked up the courage to apply for another library position. This seemed like a further sign I should give up that dream.

31 Days of Cystic Fibrosis is an awareness-raising campaign to coincide with
the national Cystic Fibrosis (CF) awareness month in Australia.
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​If you’ve just joined the journey and want to start at the beginning, you’ll find the first post here: Your Daughter Has Cystic Fibrosis