A reality/doco type show comes to the ABC tonight, based on the UK show of the same name, its aim is to & I quote
“By using science to uncover their unique abilities, this series follows Australian’s most extraordinary job seekers as they seek to prove that having a neurological condition, such as Tourette’s or autism, shouldn’t make them unemployable.”
The press release states this;
“The Employable Me series shows the benefit of hiring people with disability, including the new skills and perspectives each individual brings to the workplace. We have seen some great outcomes for people with disability who are successfully contributing to a workplace and living a life that provides them with independence.”
On the one hand we can applaud such a show, it’s hard out there finding suitable employment but add in the fact that someone comes under the disability umbrella then there in lies the issue.
On the other hand I am concerned that these participants are/will be exploited, there disability used to drive the point home that if those companies featured don’t hire that person then that’s discrimination and they the company will receive huge backlash.
Will they say yes to employing them purely for the duration of the show and then find an excuse/reason to let them go?
Are their positions available within the company already or will they have to be ‘created’ for the duration of the show’s three parts?
Call my cynical if you like, but do those that are taking part really understand what the show is about and how they will fit into the mould of it?
What happens if said disabled person doesn’t get employed? Then what? Will the production company or the ABC aid them once the three-part documentary finished filming?
Will those disabilities be portrayed in a positive light?
According to Michelle Guthrie the managing director of the ABC the aim of the show is
The Employable Me series shows the benefit of hiring people with disability, including the new skills and perspectives each individual brings to the workplace. We have seen some great outcomes for people with disability who are successfully contributing to a workplace and living a life that provides them with independence.”
Let’s hope for her sake that she’s right and it is.
Autistic Nick 