Leading the way to more inclusive employment

For our Disability Employment Support (DES) Business Manager Sarah Lee, living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and being a wheelchair user has given her a firsthand perspective on the layered and often invisible barriers face.

Those barriers are not just physical, but attitudinal, procedural, and systemic. Her experience has deepened her empathy and sharpened her resolve to advocate for more inclusive recruitment practices, guide customers through these challenges with practical strategies and support that comes from shared understanding.  

“My lived experience gives me an instinctive understanding of the difference between ‘technically accessible’ and truly inclusive,” she explains. 

Sarah has the unique insight of being able to help individuals anticipate and plan for challenges in ways that someone without lived experience might overlook. This includes guidance on disclosing disability, requesting adjustments, managing energy or mobility limitations within a job role.   

Despite their unique strengths and perspectives – such as adaptability, resilience, problem-solving and persistence - people with disability often face discrimination and it’s no surprise that many can be reluctant to disclose their disability to employers. 

“I once supported a client with early-stage MS who was fearful about disclosing their diagnosis to a new employer. They were worried about stigma and job security. I shared my own disclosure journey—both the positive and challenging aspects—and ‘walked’ them through strategies for timing, language, and self-advocacy. We also discussed reasonable adjustments that could help manage fatigue. That client later told me it was the first time they felt ‘understood without having to explain everything,’ which reminded me of how powerful shared experience can be,” Sarah shares.

When customers see this representation in Sarah – especially in a leadership role – their perspectives often shift from “Will anyone hire me?” to “If she did it, maybe I can too.” For some, it’s the first time they’ve spoken to a professional who understands their lived reality. 

We’re proud to have Sarah on our team, leading the way to more inclusive employment by advocating for individuals with disability.