Lorna Carter, a 55-year-old award-winning support worker from Gloucester, has spoken out about the discrimination experienced by people with disabilities during the job search process. With an extensive background in advocacy and a strong track record recognised through multiple awards, Ms Carter has faced significant challenges securing new employment after learning her current role is being made redundant.
Despite praising her current employers for their exemplary provision of reasonable adjustments, Ms Carter described a recent job interview with a prospective employer as “humiliating”. She revealed that adjustments such as the provision of an appropriate chair were not made, and she faced insensitive remarks relating to her use of crutches. During the interview, she was asked how she would manage visits to clients’ homes without the support of an office chair, highlighting a lack of understanding and accommodation.
While Ms Carter is pursuing resolution through the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, she is not naming the company involved. However, she believes many employers fail to provide the necessary reasonable adjustments as required by law, leaving disabled individuals at a severe disadvantage and contributing to high welfare dependencies. She notes that the United Kingdom’s welfare and social security spending is forecast to reach around £353 billion this financial year.
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She recounted having applied for 18 vacancies so far without success, emphasising the difficulties disabled people face in securing employment. “It’s a job to get a job,” she said, underscoring the barriers created by employer assumptions and inadequate support.
Ms Carter also expressed concern about the wider societal impact, fearing that disabled people are being unfairly demonised, particularly in light of cuts and restrictions to the Personal Independence Payment scheme.
Determined to address these issues at the highest level, she is seeking a one-to-one meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham. She intends to highlight how current employment law shortcomings and employer practices contribute to unemployment among disabled individuals and thus increase welfare demands. “It’s hard enough being disabled with all these health conditions to be then put through this when you try and get a job,” she said.
Ms Carter’s experience sheds light on ongoing challenges within employment practices and underscores the importance of ensuring that reasonable adjustments are consistently provided to support disabled jobseekers in obtaining and maintaining meaningful work.