As I contemplate my professional future, I worry about how people might treat me because of my disability
Christina | 23 | VIC
A semester away from completing my double degree of law and business, I have started to think about what pursuing a legal career will mean for me.
As a young neurodiverse woman, I have realised that people often forget the battle we go through just for society to accept who we are. This fuels my passion for advocating for people with a disability and the disadvantaged, and showing that we make a positive contribution to the legal profession.
People with a disability may look social and bright from the outside but sometimes that is not how we are feeling internally. Personally, I have learnt to wear a mask during social events when in reality the anxiety is inside of me. People with autism can experience an ongoing conflict with masking their emotions, and feeling trapped inside their own body. I feel that society has painted a picture that a person with a disability, like me, cannot have a full professional career where we can totally be ourselves. This needs to change, as we have special traits and unique perspectives that can enrich a variety of professions.
The question I have for society is: why should we feel we have to fight for our futures? Why has society painted that picture that a person like me cannot be a lawyer, doctor, teacher or nurse?
“Why does it have to feel like such a battle to find a job in certain fields just because of our disability?”
People like me should never feel like they cannot pursue a particular career.
As I contemplate my future, I still worry about how people might treat me because of my disability. To those people who might unfairly judge me, I ask you: why not support us rather than embarrass us or push us away? Why not join with us so that none of us have to pause for thought when becoming a lawyer, doctor, teacher or nurse? It is one thing to accept that someone has a disability, but if you want them to feel accepted and included, the method in which you support them matters! Making a genuine effort to provide supports and adjustments will influence their success and ability to achieve their goals, whether in the workplace, in an educational institution, or just in life.
Let’s work to make sure everyone feels accepted, included and able to achieve their goals whether in the workplace, an educational institution or just in life in general. Let’s continue to challenge the stigma and stereotypes that limit us.