For the third interview in our series, we invited Х.Соёлдэлгэр, a client relations specialist at Monre Insurance. We share this conversation with a hardworking woman who participates actively in society and works in her trained profession while living with a disability.
Hello, and thank you for joining us today.
First, could you introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello. My name is Х.Соёдэлгэр. I am 31 and have had a physical disability for 5 years. I currently work as a client relations specialist at Monre Insurance.
What did you study?
I graduated from Үндэсний Их Сургууль in 2011 in business administration, specializing in banking and finance. I then graduated from the Academy of Management in 2013 in finance and human resources.
You previously worked at Intermed Hospital. How did you first make contact and get that job?
After graduating, before my injury, I worked at the Trade and Development Bank. Following my injury, I received treatment for more than 2 years and stayed at home. A woman I knew told me that Universal Progress ILC was running a 4-month leadership program to involve women with disabilities in society, so I joined. We took part in many activities and meetings, including a visit to Intermed Hospital and health examinations. Later, when I heard that the hospital was hiring a person with a disability, I applied, passed the interview and worked there in accounts and records for more than 2 years. The hospital's interior was accessible when I joined, but the entrance ramp was too steep and did not meet standards. As I use a wheelchair, my colleagues arranged to rebuild the ramp to the proper standard so that I could enter and leave without difficulty. The hospital team also learned about disability and created a friendly, welcoming environment for anyone using its services.
Could you tell our readers about your current employer? How did you come to work there?
I received a job offer while working at Intermed Hospital. The company had been trying for a long time to hire a person with a disability. Someone who knew me told the director that I worked at the hospital. The director contacted me personally, and I made my decision after visiting the workplace.
What influenced your decision to work there?
When we first met and I visited the office, the director asked what I would need to work there. I really appreciated that. I wrote 6-7 pages describing my needs, and the director immediately agreed, so I decided to join. Being asked about my needs from the outset and having flexible hours were important factors. Other organizations require staff to arrive and clock in at exactly 8 in the morning. Here, I can arrive between 8:00 and 10:00 and complete my 7 working hours from the time I clock in. There is also a 1-hour lunch break, which suited me well.
What difficulties do you think people with disabilities face when applying for jobs?
Businesses often have no understanding of disability or information about what is needed to employ a person with a disability. Some may hire people to obtain tax relief. I think we can help change this by having the courage to enter the workforce and make our voices heard.
Were there difficulties when you started your current job? How long have you worked there?
There were no difficulties. I have worked here for more than 2 months. Shortly after I started, COVID-19 spread locally and restrictions were introduced, so I am now working from home.
What accommodations and accessibility improvements had your workplace made when you joined?
At first, there was not enough clearance under my computer desk. They replaced it, giving me space to sit and turn in my wheelchair without my legs hitting the desk. The toilet door was too heavy for me to pull open, so they replaced it with a lighter one. They also placed all the equipment I need within reach, which made things much easier.
Public transport is often inaccessible to people with disabilities. How do you travel to work?
I live in the Zhukov area, while the office is west of Peace Bridge near the Khurd residential complex. Public transport is not an option. I also have no one to assist me when I travel by wheelchair, and the bus stop is far away, making bus travel very difficult. At present, I take taxis to work.
What did your colleagues know about you and disability?
They knew that a person with a disability would be joining, but knew little about disability itself. Since I started, they have learned through me. Initially, they did not speak to me much and seemed hesitant or pitying. Now they understand more, help with things I cannot do, and the atmosphere has become much more positive.
What advice would you share from your experience with young people with disabilities who are actively looking for work?
Be confident and able to express yourself freely. Talk openly about yourself and explain your needs to prospective managers before joining. If you do not explain from the beginning what you can and cannot do, misunderstandings may arise later and the organization may form the mistaken view that people with disabilities are incapable. A thorough conversation at the outset is essential. We need to participate in society and show who we are until others see us as ordinary people. That can open doors for young people with disabilities who are still at home. I believe disability is in people's minds, not only in the external environment. Change your mindset and be courageous.
What advice would you give organizations planning to hire people with disabilities?
There are now many NGOs working for people with disabilities. Their staff are trained in disability-related needs and accessibility. Employers should ask these trainers to provide disability awareness training for all staff. Paying attention to preparation before hiring, and explaining the diversity and particular features of disabilities, will make it easier when a person with a disability joins. A distant workplace atmosphere with little understanding of disability will not motivate that person to engage fully in their work.
Thank you. We are coming to the end of our conversation, and we would like to leave the final word to you.
Thank you, too, for creating this wonderful website and publishing my interview. I would like to share something I have been thinking about.
I hope people with disabilities will spread across every sector and try working in each one, just as this coronavirus has spread. Of course, everything is difficult at first. But if we believe in ourselves and persevere, there is nothing we cannot do. By working in every sector ourselves, we can change people's understanding and attitudes and create accessibility.
Thank you for accepting our invitation and sharing your experience. We wish you all the best in your work and life.