Disabled university students face discrimination and hostility at work placement

Disabled university students face prejudice and hostility at work placement, with some supervisors refusing to believe they even have a disability.

University students with disabilities routinely face discrimination while on work placement. Picture: Tony Gough

University students with disabilities often face discrimination and hostility at work placement, with some supervisors refusing to believe they even have a disability.

New research from Deakin University has uncovered shocking cases of prejudice directed at disabled students, causing some to drop out or switch career paths midway through their degree.

The Australian-first study found 44 per cent of students would not disclose, or fully disclose, details of their disability to work placement supervisors out of fear of being discriminated against.

Lead researcher Dr Mollie Dollinger said some students’ disabilities were not believed or blatantly disregarded by workplace supervisors.

They were made to feel excluded and as if they were a burden during their placements.

“We learned of a scenario where a student with limited mobility arrived for their first day of placement to find the building had no lift,” Dr Dollinger said.

“We were also told about one work placement manager who was informed a student experienced chronic fatigue but who chose not to take it seriously.

“Often these examples of discrimination came from a lack of awareness or poor understanding of disability, but others stemmed from bias and prejudice.”

The study surveyed more than 130 university students who identified as disabled.

Dr Dollinger said generational and cultural differences with supervisors often compounded the issue, with students’ health questioned or even interrogated.

She said the education and nursing sectors had the most inflexible working environments and were “prohibitive” to people with disabilities, despite being chronically understaffed.

“Nursing supervisors, for example, were often reluctant to allow for shorter shifts to accommodate a students’ specific needs,” she said.

“Another student on school placement was asked to read aloud to a class for an extended period despite their supervisor knowing their disability made it difficult for them to do so. One was even asked to hide her disability so it would not scare children’s parents.”

Dr Dollinger said more research was needed to develop best practice guidelines to help employers make their workplaces more inclusive and accessible.

It is estimated as many as 20 per cent of young people experience mental health conditions and/or neurodiversity.

Deakin University student Shannon Krattli, 24, lives with ADHD, depression and chronic anxiety.

Ms Krattli lives with ADHD, depression and chronic anxiety. Picture: Tony Gough

Ms Krattli is currently studying a Graduate Diploma of Public Health and recently had an “awful” experience during placement at a research based organisation.

She was required to work four times the hours she said she could work and was demanded to meet unrealistic project deadlines. It forced her to rethink her study and career options.

“I disclosed everything during my interview process and they didn’t respect my needs. My anxiety went through the roof,” she said.

“Sometimes disabilities are invisible and people don’t believe it’s real. But it’s very real and it really impacts your everyday life.

“It would have been good to receive regular check-ins – not just performance based conversations.”

Another Deakin student, Thomas Crowe, who has dyslexia and is in his third year of a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, said he felt “alone” during placement.

He said more needs to be done to “work out a plan with university, placement and disability support staff before starting – being more proactive rather than reactive”.