The Corporate Jungle

Tell Us About Yourself

A very popular question in an interview.  I always make sure that I speak about my eyesight as many people do not understand the albinism eye.  I also do the same when I get to a new company then the respective manager can inform the team.

Reasonable accommodation

It is a legislative requirement that companies should provide reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities to ensure that they work in a comfortable and conducive environment.  I normally need a darker space as too much light blinds my eyes.  Time and again I would have conversations with my friends with albinism to find out if they are reasonably accommodated,  most of them say that it just feels like people with disabilities are recruited for Employment Equity statistics and left in limbo.

New Ways Of Working 

Covid 19 brought about a lot of change within the working environment.  I was moved to a new department because of company changes.  Working from home meant that I would spend long hours on the laptop.  My eyes started reacting to this new change, they became very teary and red which got worse as days went by.  I decided to consult with an ophthalmologist (a specialist doctor above the optometrist) she confirmed that all is caused by spending too much time on the laptop and she prescribed medication to rectify that problem.  

I scheduled a meeting with the manager so I can update her.  The dry answer I got in that meeting was "oh I thought you were normal."  It's years later and I am still trying to make sense of  that comment.  I then applied for a position elsewhere.

The latest obstacle I came across was when I applied to alternate working days between two offices closer to my home as driving to the office was straining because I would spend so much time stuck in traffic which affected my eyes.  The application was declined.

Disability Committee 

I love serving my community with disabilities at the workplace.  I always find myself in this space because people are mistreated and they get scared to talk about it.  I am blessed with a fighting spirit and I try to assist although some issues take time to get resolved.  The common issue is that people with disabilities are normally classed for being good with admin jobs as they get recruited.  This has been a long term fight however I am hopeful that we will rectify this in the future.

My Personal Challenges In The Workplace

1. At points we have meetings where items are displayed on a projector,  having to focus on the projector is a strenuous exercise for my eyes.  At points I just make a decision to rather listen in or read from my laptop if the information was shared before the meeting.
2. Having to work on a computer for a very long time especially on Excel burdens my eyes even when breaks are taken.
3. Being put under pressure to review large documents for inputs, I normally ask for extra time or I use my personal time to ensure that I submit on time.

Gratitude Note 

Thank you so much for taking your time to read. I cannot wait to share further exciting experiences with you.  Please kindly share this post with as many people as you can as it will help me reach out to the world.

Please feel free to contact me HERE