Authenticity at Work: Disability as Identity, Not an Obstacle

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Kicking off Season 5, the HigherEdJobs Podcast returns with a powerful conversation on navigating disability in the job search. Co-hosts Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin welcomed Emily Ladau — disability rights activist, writer, and author of “Demystifying Disability” — to discuss her understanding of showing up authentically in professional environments as the whole person that you are. Ladau acknowledged from experiences within her personal life and advocacy that disability is not something to “overcome” but a part of one’s identity. She encouraged listeners not to hide or diminish who they are as they seek work. In addition, she also shared that disability can be an asset.

The episode covered some of the most common — and sometimes awkward — questions job seekers with disabilities face: whether to disclose a disability on job applications, how to thoughtfully address accommodation needs during the hiring process, and avoiding the trap of being characterized solely by one’s disability during employment. Ladau’s response was clear: Disclosure can carry risk given the status quo of bias, but hiding one’s identity can lead to challenges of poor workplace relationships, strained mental health, and difficulty accessing accommodations and resources. Ladau invites listeners to ask not “is it safe to share,” but “is this an environment where I can thrive if I can’t be authentic?” The episode also addressed the two-way street of employment. Applicants can frame the way they present themselves, but just as importantly, employers are responsible for building workplaces that provide support and authentic environments for disabled professionals.

Ladau reminded listeners that job seekers are not just being overlooked — they, too, are judging whether the institution lives up to its values of inclusion. Andy and Kelly added their own reflections, with Andy sharing a particularly personal story regarding living with a physical disability. Narratives that are unique and personal are powerful ways to address stigma as a collective force. Ladau reminded listeners that there are more than 1 billion people in the world living with disabilities and that no two experiences of a disability are alike.

This means that each narrative that is told is an additional brick that forms the pathway to genuine accessibility. This season opener reminds employers and job seekers alike that disability is a natural part of the human experience and that true commitment to inclusion means creating workplaces where everyone can show up authentically.

As a reminder, the full transcript of every HigherEdJobs Podcast can be found by clicking on ‘transcript’ next to the episode’s show notes