“The Unemployment rate is at its lowest since 2007, it is at 4.0%”, every time the media announces the unemployment rate here in New Zealand I sigh because we are never included in the statistics... in fact, if we were, the total would be higher and never lower.

Unemployment is a huge issue for disabled people worldwide, and what’s worse is the attitude we get of “go get a job, stop taking hand-outs” or “people on benefits are lazy and drug addicts”. Then you have organisations like Occupational Health and Safety NZ which makes our lives harder still.

My mum says something that is very true: disabled people are hard workers, we WANT to have a job, and we hardly ever take time off, a fact backed by statistics. National employment studies (including a 30-year analysis by DuPont de Nemours) have consistently shown that people with disabilities had equal or higher performance ratings, less absenteeism and better retention rates (significantly reducing the high cost of staff turnover).

When I had a job my own brother once rang my Mum when I went into work with a cold and told her he was proud of me, because I still went to work yet he had staff calling in sick for the stupidest things. I also had a colleague who was often calling me asking if I could cover her shift. When I had my job, I was as happy as I have felt. I was contributing to society, and every time I received my pay I was excited to know I earned it, that I had actually done something instead of just relying on my weekly benefits.

Despite us wanting work, and applying for as many jobs as we can, and there being anti-discrimination laws in place, employers can still get around not employing you; “we regret to inform you, your application was not successful this time”. I seriously have lost count of how many of those I have received since becoming a job seeker and it really lowers my morale and confidence.

I am hoping in the future when I hear “the unemployment rate is at its lowest since….” That it really is at its lowest, and that employers give us more chances to prove our worth.  

About the writer: 

I am a 41-year-old man, who is born and raised in New Zealand. I have PHACES Syndrome which is very rare (there are only around 5 of us in NZ and I am the oldest we know of here), this affects my brain, senses, muscles, nervous system, vascular system, as well as the skeleton and connective tissue.

I have a Certificate in Social Services (Biculturalism), which helps me in my advocacy work, but I would love to work with children with special education needs. I write poetry, short stories and have written a song. I also paint and play a strong part in my Church community. I love knitting and music, anything related to space and cats, and my favourite show is Star Trek.

I was recently published in a book, telling my experience over lockdown as a person with a disability.