– It’s a bit painful actually. In my youth, I didn’t quite accept that I was in a wheelchair, says Sarah Naomi Lunner. Lunner quickly got used to the uncomfortable questions about why she used a wheelchair. But it wasn’t always so easy to answer. She felt she was looked down upon when she said she had cerebral palsy. But when she started higher education, something happened. – I became more confident in myself and felt more accepted at the university. No one asked why she was different anymore. Sarah hopes that employers see the positive things she can contribute to the workplace. Photo: Julie Helene Günther / news The 25-year-old has now completed a bachelor’s degree in information technology, digital media and design at Østfold University College. But not everyone is like her. Figures from Bufdir show that 40 per cent of disabled people have no more than primary school education, compared to 25 per cent of the entire population. Doesn’t say she uses a wheelchair In order for disabled people to get into working life, it is very important that they get higher education, says Jan Trøssebo, who has worked with disabilities for over 30 years. Newly graduated Lunner never had any doubts that she would study. Now she is looking for new challenges after working as a student leader. But when she has to apply for vacancies, she has a demanding dilemma. – I don’t state that I’m in a wheelchair because I’m afraid I won’t be called in for an interview, she says. Have to apply for twice as many jobs And her fear is completely real. Wheelchair users have to apply for twice as many jobs to be called in for an interview as applicants without a disability. A group of researchers at OsloMet found this out when they sent out 1,200 fictitious job applications to various companies in the Oslo area. – Wheelchair users are called in for an interview. But not to the same extent as equally qualified applicants who do not have a disability, says researcher Vegar Bjørnshagen. The researchers sent two job applications with equal qualifications to each job advertisement. The only thing that separated the applicants from each other was that one of them stated that he was a wheelchair user. – The applicants were equally qualified for the positions and by applying for a large number of jobs we could see that the discrimination was only due to the disability, says Bjørnshagen. – I hope companies can take the lead and be cool to hire someone who is a little different, says Lunner. Photo: Julie Helene Günther / news When job seeker Lunner hears about the study, she is not surprised. – I think it’s embarrassing and very sad. She believes that disabled people can add valuable new points of view to the workplace. – I want more employers to have more faith in people with a disability. The study was published in 2021 and has previously been mentioned by Handikappnytt. This is what they did: The researchers conducted a field experiment. They sent out 1,200 fictitious job applications with the same qualifications for vacancies in the Oslo area. The researchers did this to see to what extent discrimination affects the chances of getting a job among people with disabilities. The fictitious jobseekers therefore only applied for positions that were practically possible for someone in a wheelchair to complete. The researchers found that the applicant who was in a wheelchair was called for an interview in 11 per cent of the cases compared to 22 per cent of the applicants without a disability. – It is halved compared to people without a disability. Those with disabilities are called up, but not to the same extent as equally qualified applicants, says researcher Vegar Bjørnshagen. For practical reasons, the study was only done with private companies. The public positions were more demanding to get, says Bjørnshagen. Public job advertisements often use a recruitment system that makes it difficult to carry out such field experiments. Concerned about possible cabin trips Several of the companies were concerned about social conditions in the workplace when they assessed the applicants who used a wheelchair. – They were worried about whether it would be difficult to arrange work trips, trips to the cabin or boat trips, says Bjørnshagen. Employers hesitated to call people who use wheelchairs in for interviews due to social factors. Universal design in the workplace was not enough. – It is of course very problematic. – The challenge of reducing this form of discrimination is not only solved in the workplace. It is also important to ensure accessibility in general in society, says researcher Bjørnshagen. Don’t give up Lunner is open about it in job adverts where questions are asked about whether you have a disability. – I don’t want to lie. But in the open job advertisements she leaves it alone. It still puts her in an uncomfortable situation. – It’s a bit awkward to turn up for an interview without them knowing about it in advance too. So I’m not sure what is the right thing to do. She has worked for two years as a student leader at the University College in Østfold after she finished her studies. Photo: Amalie Fagerhaug Evjen / news She has not yet been invited to any interviews, but she has no plans to give up. – The dream is probably to become a journalist. Then maybe I can help change society a little and show the good sides of what looks challenging. Hi Did you think of anything in particular when you read this case? I work with diversity at news and would like to hear from you! Please send me an email. All information is treated confidentially.
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Sarah has to apply for twice as many jobs as others to be called in for an interview – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
