According to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest data from the National Disability Prevalence Survey (NDPS), as many as 1.44 million Filipinos, or 1.57 percent of the country’s total population, live with a disability. That means that about 16 people per thousand Filipinos are persons with disabilities or PWDs. Physical disabilities like blindness or deafness, learning disabilities like dyslexia, and acquired disabilities from injury or illness are actually quite common in the population—which is a fact that the Philippines’ job market continues to adjust to.
PWDs have as much of a right to a stable and rewarding livelihood as their able-bodied counterparts do. If you’re searching for onsite, hybrid, or work from home jobs to accommodate your disability, you deserve an arrangement that will safeguard your health and well-being and allow you to be your best self while fulfilling your work responsibilities. Finding the ideal arrangement starts as early as the job-hunting stage. What you find out about a company during your querying and interview phase can determine how happy you’ll be at the job and how agreeable your employer’s terms are to your condition.
Below are five important job-hunting tips that PWDs in the Philippines should know. Use these to find a job that will offer you good compensation and help you realize your talents in full.
Look for Positions That Can Accommodate Your Needs
One of the first things that you should do while looking for a new job is to determine the scope of job positions that can accommodate your disability. In that regard, some positions can be ruled out more quickly than others. For example, if you’re hard of hearing, it won’t be wise to apply for a job where your sense of hearing is needed to keep you and other people safe, like welding or working with heavy machinery.
In contrast, you can choose from a range of jobs that will help you utilize your visual skills, reading and writing skills, or your ability to work with your hands. Some examples include graphic design, content writing, sign language interpretation, or massage therapy. Determine your range, then look for listings related to the work you can do.
Check Out Your Options as a Remote Worker
For some PWDs, mobility can be an issue when it comes to finding a job and reporting to work regularly. Commuting back and forth from home can be tiresome, expensive, and even dangerous to one’s health, depending on their condition.
But compared to before, there are a lot more job options available for PWDs and others who prefer or need to work from home. There’s a pretty big job market for remote work arrangements that only require an internet connection and some basic tools. Look through online job boards or social media groups for remote openings; from these sources, you’ll be able to find vacancies from both local and international companies.
Seek Out Leads from Others in Your Community
The best people to advise you on where to look for a job are fellow members of your PWD community. They may know about companies or job positions that are a good fit for your circumstances, as well as how to go about the hiring process.
If this is your first time looking for a job, your fellow PWDs’ input will be invaluable in pointing you in the right direction. You can ask for the advice of trusted friends or schoolmates who are already working, then compile your leads. In addition, you can seek assistance from your school or your local government unit’s (LGU) PWD desk for referrals for job training opportunities or job placement assistance.
Highlight What You Can Contribute
Once you get to the application and interview stages of your job hunt, it may be pretty scary to put yourself out there. In these stages, you may be feeling particularly self-conscious about your disability and what you perceive as your shortcomings compared to able-bodied employees.
But faith in your abilities, as well as evidence of where your talents lie, will bring you closer to your dream job. When you’re compiling info for your resume or preparing for an interview, keep the focus on your talents, skills, certifications, and personal strengths. Be as honest as you can possibly be about your limitations, but emphasize what makes you a good fit for the job and what you can contribute to an organization’s growth.
Ask Your Potential Employers About How They Cultivate Inclusivity in the Workplace
Lastly, don’t be afraid to broach the topic of inclusivity with your interviewer or recruiter if you feel like it’s the right time to do so. Learning more about how a company practices inclusivity in its work culture is part and parcel of setting expectations for your future there. The more you know about how serious a company is in championing PWD rights and supporting its employees with disabilities, the easier it will be for you to make a decision on whether to work there.
Look for “green flags” like sufficient healthcare benefits for your condition, support infrastructure in the company’s building, and a diverse employee population in the company’s workforce. These are good indicators of how satisfying your job will be and how well you’ll fit into your new workplace.
Throughout your job hunt, remember to be proud of who you are, how far you’ve come, and the good you’re capable of doing in spite of the challenges you face as a PWD. Search for a job that will allow you to contribute lasting value—and say yes to a job that values you.