When you have a disability, it’s hard not to notice that ability is the default position for most spaces, including employment. Nothing is designed with disability in mind. Which got me thinking, what if it was the other way around? What if disability was assumed, and abled people were an afterthought?
Instead of disabled people having to prove that they can do a job, abled people would have to. And they would have to prove that their ability won’t negatively impact their performance.
Employers would ask “how can you sit in a chair for 8 hours a day without impacting your physical health, since your legs work perfectly?” Or “why would you want to take a job that may damage your hearing? Obviously it makes more sense to hire someone who is already hearing impaired!”
Employment applications would ask what “disability” you have that qualifies you for the job, instead of asking what “abilities” you have. And being too “abled” would disqualify you.
“I’m really sorry but you don’t have enough allergies to need the scent-free environment we’ve created here. You should really work in a dustier office full of perfume.”
“I’m sure you can appreciate that our clients are a bit grossed out when they have to look at your normie body.”
“I mean honestly, this office was designed for the vision impaired, and we don’t have the time or money to accommodate sighted people. It would be a whole renovation. I hope you understand”
It may sound like comedy to abled people, but it’s not really funny to treat people this way. If it effected everyone it would change.