Request for employers to look beyond the wheelchair as Brendan Mackrill pleads for employment

BRENDAN Mackrill has one simple request for potential employers as he takes his search for a job to the side of one of Brisbane’s busiest roads.

Brendan Mackrill of North Lakes is desperate for a job as he keeps getting rejected due to his wheelchair. Pic: Josh Woning.

THERE are no handles on the back of 25 year-old Brendan Mackrill’s wheelchair because he does everything himself but, there is one thing the North Lakes resident needs help with.

After one and a half years of knock backs he has literally taken to the streets in his battle to get people to see beyond his disability and help him find a job.

Mr Mackrill’s sign pleads for potential employers to “look beyond the chair” when considering him for a job.

He decided to sit on the side of Gympie Rd at Strathpine with a sign after a number of high-profile national businesses and countless call centres all declined his services.

When he was 19 years old Mr Mackrill was in a motorbike accident near the Glasshouse Mountains where he broke his back in three places.

Data collected by the Bureau of Statistics, in the most recent census, states in 2012 47.3 per cent of working age people with a disability were unemployed.

People with disabilities are also more than 25 per cent less likely to find work than those without.

A recent wedding proposal to his girlfriend Tiarna Auld, on her birthday, has given Mr Mackrill extra motivation to find work.

“I hid the ring in the top of her cake,” Mr Mackrill said.

“I’m just so proud of him, if he can get work we can get our goals and aspirations underway and start a family,” Ms Auld said — a sentiment mirrored by her new fiance.

“If I could find work, I could pay the bills and we could start planning for the future,” Mr Mackrill said.

Mr Mackrill has already proved he’s no statistic by regularly hitting the gym, in fact his dream job would involve fitness or personal training.

“During times of high unemployment, like we have now, those figures actually increase for people with disabilities,” disabilities advocate Elisha Wright said.

“And there seems to be a natural mindset for people that if you’ve got a disability you get a pension anyway and that’s not always the case.

“Brendan’s incredible he’s taking such a big step in putting himself out there.”

If you think you can help Brendan find work email: [e-mail]