Disability Awareness Month - Natasha Barrett

 

Having a disability that is both Physical and Physiological has impacted my pathway into law presenting me with setbacks I could not prepare for such as requiring time off while I was an inpatient and undergoing Radioactive Treatments. I have always felt that I must do more than my counterparts to overcompensate this. Luckily, I was able to find a treatment that although is very aggressive, works and it works well meaning I can maintain a relatively “normal” way of life and working.  

Accessibility in the workplace in 2024 has advanced since I was diagnosed in 2019, Disability and Discrimination Acts afford protection during employment when they are adhered to professionally and special measures can be utilised for the comfortability and wellbeing of disabled employees, be it a physical or hidden disability,   however there is still an undertone of bias when it comes to employment of people with disabilities, often I have found it is not the issuing of special measures etc to be the problem, it is the attitude that a disabled colleague may somehow be a hindrance rather than an asset to the workplace that prevents a wider margin of disabled people obtaining employment.  As disabled people we already feel like we are hindering others so for that to then be reflected in your working environment by other people can be incredibly distressing and it puts you off wanting to go work in the first place.

My advice to anyone with a disability in life – not just in law is to just show up, be present as you are, in all your disabled glory – the rest will follow!!

Biscoes have been, to date, the best company I have worked for in terms of Diversity and Inclusion, Special measures were accommodated for on day 1 of employment and my working schedule is flexible enough that I don’t fear having to tell my boss if I don’t feel 100% or potentially, that I cannot manage tasks on any given day. If anything I am more open to being open because of how understanding Biscoes are towards my disability.There is so much respect from the firm in relation to Disabilities, its quite touching, and having the flexibility to work from home enables me to manage my condition with ease.

I do not feel there is anything more that Biscoes could have done to accommodate my disability personally at this stage, if anything having Biscoes behind me in terms of support, and the platform in which they are able to even just raise awareness is more than I could ask for, I know that the team will support me.