For this interview, we spoke with \u0423\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0437\u0443\u043b, who works at Umnugovi Polytechnic College. Among vocational education and training institutions, the college stands out for creating a workplace that meets accessibility standards and enables people with disabilities to work.<\/p>\n
Hello, and thank you for joining us today.<\/p>\n
First, could you introduce yourself to our readers?<\/p>\n
Hello. My name is \u0423\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0437\u0443\u043b. I sustained a spinal cord injury in an accident at home in 2009 and became a wheelchair user. I work as an education specialist at Umnugovi Polytechnic College.<\/p>\n
What did you study?<\/p>\n
I graduated from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology with a degree in automotive engineering.<\/p>\n
Did you do other work before starting this job?<\/p>\n
I worked for an NGO protecting the rights and interests of people with disabilities, and I still do that work alongside this job. Before my injury, I also worked as a statistics clerk at our provincial police department.<\/p>\n
Where did you find job advertisements?<\/p>\n
To be honest, I had never thought I would take a job. I worried that I would not be able to manage sitting in my wheelchair for long hours, so I had not been looking for work or searching job advertisements.<\/p>\n
What difficulties do you think people with disabilities face when applying for jobs?<\/p>\n
I think a major obstacle is employers' reluctance to hire a person with a disability\u2014in other words, a lack of willingness or the right attitude. If managers gain an accurate understanding of different disabilities, recognize the barriers a person faces and how to remove them, and make a little effort, it is not difficult. I believe that commitment can also lead to solutions to infrastructure and other social issues affecting people with disabilities.<\/p>\n
Were there difficulties when you started your current job? How long have you worked there?<\/p>\n
I have worked at the polytechnic college for 1 year. As it was a new field for me, I naturally worried about whether I could do the work and settle in quickly. Those fears are now gradually fading.<\/p>\n
What accommodations and accessibility improvements had your workplace made when you joined?<\/p>\n
Vocational education and training institutions worked with GIZ to provide accessible toilets and standard-compliant ramps outside teaching buildings and sports halls for students with disabilities. Footpaths were also adapted for wheelchair users and included tactile guidance for blind people. These accessibility improvements were an important factor in my decision to take the job.<\/p>\n
How do you get to and from work?<\/p>\n
Although our province has public transport, I cannot use it because it is inaccessible. Our workplace has 70 employees, who have arranged a rota so that a different colleague collects me from home and takes me to work each day. The person on duty also helps when I need assistance throughout that day, so traveling to and from work is not a problem.<\/p>\n
What is the workplace atmosphere like? How well do your colleagues understand you and disability?<\/p>\n
Shortly before I joined, my colleagues received DET training from Universal Progress ILC trainers to build a positive understanding of disability. Thanks to that training, they understood me, which made things much easier. They also provide considerable support with my work.<\/p>\n
What advice would you give young people with disabilities who are actively looking for work?<\/p>\n
Be confident and courageous, and do not underestimate yourself. Help managers understand your disability accurately. Working with mutual understanding can prevent misunderstandings later on.<\/p>\n
What advice would you give organizations planning to hire people with disabilities?<\/p>\n
First, learn about disability. Respect the person's rights and hire them as someone who creates value, rather than out of pity. That will make things easier.<\/p>\n
Thank you for accepting our invitation and sharing your experience. We wish you all the best in your work and life.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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