Career choices are among the most important decisions you’ll ever make in your life.
This makes it imperative to give them a lot of thought and carry out adequate research to find out exactly what to expect should you pursue a certain field. If you love helping people, one career you should consider is working with the disabled.
Before you do so, learn everything you need to know about this line of work here.
1. Job Demand
There are one billion people living with disabilities worldwide. This translates to 15% of the global population. With this in mind, it is not difficult to see why professionals in this field are in high demand.
If you decide to delve into this career, you can be certain that your services will be in demand. The advantage of picking in-demand careers is that you spend minimal time job hunting and in-between jobs. In the larger scheme of things, it means you have the peace of mind of having a regular income.
2. Formal Training Is a Must
Unless you want to volunteer from time to time, a career in disability requires formal training.
You will be happy to know there are many disability courses to choose from. These range from foundational certifications all the way to postgraduate level.
For people looking for a transition, you can take your disability classes online. With these, you get a flexible study schedule and do not have to worry about the subsequent loss of income that would be necessitated by taking a break from work.
3. There are Industry Regulations
Besides formal training, there will be industry regulations to comply with before joining formal employment.
The first is a police background check. This is mandatory for all professionals that work with the disabled, the elderly, and children. A first-aid certificate and a driving license are also required. A thorough understanding of the National Standards for Disability Services is also expected for professionals looking to work with the disabled in Australia.
If you intend to work outside the country, ensure to get a comprehensive list of the requirements for compliance purposes.
4. You Can Determine Your Schedule
Some people are extremely particular about having a healthy work-life balance.
If this describes you, then working hours are just an important consideration as salary and job location. Most professions in people with disabilities offer both full and part-time positions.
This gives you some flexibility in determining a work schedule that compliments your family and social life.
5. There Are Numerous Specialties
There are several types of disabilities. The more common ones include:
- Mobility and physical disabilities
- Head and brain injuries
- Spinal cord disabilities
- Vision-related disabilities
- Hearing disabilities
- Psychological disabilities
- Cognitive and learning disabilities
There are different roles in all these specialties, such as daily support, specialist support, administration, and management. A wide array of choices means you can choose a career under the disabled umbrella that suits your skill, aptitudes, and personality.
6. Your Personality Matters A lot
If you work in everyday support for the disabled, you will require other traits over and above training. In such a role, you will be spending a lot of time helping disabled people go about their lives as normally as possible.
This will require empathy, patience, respect, and an intrinsic will to be helpful and compassionate. While this job will take a lot from you, it will also give you unparalleled joy and job satisfaction.
Sounds Good?
If careers in disability sound like the ideal profession for you, the next step should involve thinking about the specific field you want to go into. Once you figure this out, you can then identify a credible school to begin your training.