Self-advocacy and accessibility in the workplace

Hello, My name is Gurleen Kaur (She/Her) and I am a Career Peer Educator with the Career Centre. I have been in my position for three years and I always enjoy meeting new people to support them in their career journeys. Today I will discuss self-advocacy in the workplace!

Accessibility in the workplace is protected under the Alberta Human Rights Act and available to all students. If you live with a disability, whether that be physical, mental, cognitive, developmental, or otherwise, you might run into workplace situations that require you to communicate your accessibility needs to your employer. Here are some tips for you to advocate for yourself through this process so you can make the best of your work experience:

1. You have the right to your privacy. When disclosing personal information about your disability or accessibility needs to your employer, it is important to know that you have the right to keep your personal information to yourself. You can choose to provide as much information to your employer as you feel comfortable with and feel is appropriate. It is within your rights to withhold personal information, even when prompted by the employer. 

2. Disclose personal information judicially. There can often be stigma associated with certain disabilities or conditions, such as schizophrenia. Incorrect or inaccurate assumptions can impact our workplace relationships and our work environments. So, when disclosing your personal information to the employer, you can choose to be judicial about it and advocate for your needs without risking any negative reactions to a disclosure of your diagnosis.

3. Focus on your strengths. Many of us juggle school, work, volunteering and maybe even research. Balancing any combination of these activities is a reflection of your strength and resiliency - avoid focusing on weaknesses. When communicating with employers, try focusing on your strengths instead. 

An Example: I have schizophrenia and I function poorly during evenings due to dissociation. To be more successful at work, I would like to ask my manager for morning shifts, rather than evening shifts. To do this, I can tell my employer that I tend to function best during the daytime because that is when I can focus and produce my best work. This approach focuses on the accommodations that will help me succeed, without subjecting myself to biases based on my diagnosis.