Disibility Discrimination Act

DarrenG1977

New Member

Joined : Jul 2009

Posts : 1

Posted 7/27/2009 3:41 PM (GMT 0)

I have an ileostomy and have had it for 7 years after having UC for about 5 years.

I am currently applying for a job in the public sector, and am wondering if I should declare my Ileostomy or not. I dont mind people knowing I have the bag, I just didnt know if declaring it would help me or hinder me with the application. I have had no time of work in the past few years as I had the surgery 7 years ago - so that side of it shouldnt be a problem.

Would appreciate your views.

Kind Regards

Darren.

suebear

Veteran Member

Joined : Feb 2006

Posts : 5698

Posted 7/27/2009 3:58 PM (GMT 0)

Unless your ileostomy would affect your work there is no reason to volunteer the information.

Sue

spiderman

Regular Member

Joined : Jun 2009

Posts : 30

Posted 7/27/2009 5:07 PM (GMT 0)

Darren,
In the UK most public sector employers have targets for the number of disabled people (and an ileostomy classifies you as such according to the DDA) they employ. Declaring your stoma may actually improve your odds of getting the job. Also not declaring a disability later may prejudice your rights to have your employer make 'reasonable adjustments' to enable you to fulfil your role. I have always fully disclosed my illness/surgery, but have always held the opinion that if that affected my chances of employment they weren't worth working for anyway, but appreciate not everybody can afford to have the same attitude.

Peter

summerstorm

Veteran Member

Joined : Aug 2006

Posts : 6575

Posted 7/28/2009 2:58 AM (GMT 0)

i agree with suebear.

To me i wouldnt want to get a job because they had to fulfill a quota of disabled people. I cant think of any job that having a bag would keep you from doing. well, maybe bikini modeling or something, lol.

In the US they arent supposed to be able to use any health issue either for or against you in hiring. But before i had surgery, when is till had UC and i also have had seiuzres in the past, i never told before i got hired, and i would only tell after i got hired if i thought it was necessary.

Good luck with your job hunt!

mikeman

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2009

Posts : 66

Posted 7/28/2009 9:10 AM (GMT 0)

It sounds like you may still qualify for many special hiring programs with an ileostomy. In this country when you have severe ulcerative colitis it is a chronic disease which you qualify for a disability. When you have surgery/colectomy you are considered 'no longer disabled' because the disease is gone by definition.
At least that is what Im being told by social security.
I don't agree with this logic but that is what our government seems to think.
For a job it may be different.
In the states there are many benefits for businesses who employ persons with disabilities, especially disabled veterans. That's wonderful. I mean after all- some Americans have taken a bullet for this country!!! Why not give them a job?

Also, employers who discriminate against disability can get in some big legal+government trouble. It will most definitely increase your chances of getting the job if you state that you are disabled. Just make sure you are not overstating the disability when you tell them.

Sorry Mikeman, please limit your signature to 10 lines or less (incl blank lines) as per forum rules. Thanks... Shaz

Post Edited By Moderator (Shaz032) : 7/31/2009 9:55:14 AM (GMT-6)

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