Physical disability, job loss, and career trajectories

[NativeFraulein 242]

Hello everyone,

 

I need a bit of guidance in a difficult scenario I have found myself in.

 

 

I have been in Germany since 2013 and in nearly all aspects of my life I have been successful here. I married in 2017 and my husband and I have a child.

 

I have cerebral palsy which means I walk differently but other physical and cognitive functions are normal and intact. I do have the ‘Schwerbehinderung’ status at 60 percent.

 

 

I am a trained teacher (but I do not have the full qualification yet to work in state schools) and have been working with students in some capacity since 2009. My first job in Germany was rough. I experienced a lot of mobbing at the bilingual kita where I worked, the climate there was so tense that nobody ever seemed happy or professionally fulfilled.

 

I worked there for two and a half years before moving on to work as a teacher at a bilingual school teaching English and Politics. This school is classified as an Ersatz Schule (private but at least partially funded by the state) I was at this school for six years. Overall, it was a good place to work with decent colleagues. Student behaviour, lack of funding and staff, and teaching through the pandemic was very tough. I finished my contract in June when it was revealed that the school could not afford to have me work full-time.

 

 

I thought I had gotten lucky when I landed a fulltime contract at an ‘international school’. I was getting on well with my new students and curriculum. Yesterday without any notice I was dismissed and since I was in Probezeit that was it. Administration said I did nothing wrong, but they were unnecessarily curt and cold. I was given a lot of support from other staff who told me outright this had happened to other people.  The school is very image conscious and I suspect my physical difference didn’t positively contribute to that. The job was incredibly time consuming and didn’t work well with a balanced family life but all the same I am angry and sad that seemingly no thought was given to how such an abrupt change would affect students or myself. I am not entirely sure if the correct protocol was followed considering my status but that might be a better question for a lawyer.

 

I feel comfortable with who I am and the way I was made by nature, I think having this issue has made me more compassionate and built my good character, but I am becoming more and more aware that much of German society (at least where I am) doesn’t’ often seem to know how to accommodate or react to people with obvious physical disabilities.

 

The realization that no matter how well spoken I am, how kind I am or qualified I am might never trump my disability has caused me a great deal of stress and insecurity. It makes me incredibly upset when people assume that my physical difference must be an indicator of intellectual difference/disability.

 

It wasn’t until I came to Germany that I am experienced *adults* making fun of the way I walk and stares.

 

 

 I am afraid to apply for my next job and this coupled with probable teacher burnout has really made me question where  I belong and where  I go from here. I am emotionally fragile at the moment of course.  I have consistently found that students don’t care about my disability, but some other people do. I used to love teaching but now I find myself just wanting to find a job where I can be a positive influence and ‘make a difference.' I am trying not to become cynical or sad.

 

Any ideas, insight or words of comfort? Thanks.

 

[kiplette 8,712]

You are a hugely successful human being by anyone's standards.

 

Your experience is not easy reading, I certainly feel disturbed that a school of all places might be discriminating against someone who may not be projecting the image they are after. This is an issue of their smallness of vision, not of any lack in you.

 

Are you by any chance a language teacher?  Joshua Eric has been encouraging language teachers to apply to the Bundeswehr who need such people. They have a robust policy in place to prevent discrimination in employment, and frankly I imagine you would be a dream and tick multiple boxes, and be a complete treasure.

There is definitely a place for you in the world of education. You are marvellous.

[BayrischDude 2,073]

Could not agree with kiplette more!  There are three people on Instagram who I follow and both have CP.  One, a Scottish lad, is working on being very physically active, ie., weight lifting among others. The other is an American, I believe, who assists the elderly and works on her physical strength.  The third is, like me, a leather worker!  All three have constant smiles on their faces and are a positive influence regardless of their CP.

The Bundeswehr would be a fantastic idea!  The government would take serious issue to discrimination.  If not a teacher, definitely a translator.  The Bundewehr here in the Oberallgäu had a Scot translating for the military for 20 years.  He was treated very well, he says, and has a cosy little retirement.  The government do a proper job of taking care of it's disabled employees.

[maxie 611]

I got so angry reading your post.

A school of all places should foster diversity and teach the children that people come in all shapes and forms. Adults should know better than to point an stare at someone and base their view of people on idiotic beliefs. It pissed me off just reading about it and it must feel 1,000x worse for you. 

 

I expect better from German society. But sadly, we are still decades behind when it comes to equality for people with disabilities. This makes me embarrassed and ashamed. Please know that not all Germans are like that. 

 

I am truly sorry for what you are going through. You will come out stronger, I am sure, but that does not really make it better right now. I hope you have a support network of friends and family to support you right now.  

It might be an idea to speak to a lawyer. I have no idea. It will take strength but it might also give you a sense of empowerment to not take this laying down. 

 

[catjones 1,693]

You're old enough to truly know what "different" means.  As you noted, others have lost their jobs as well and they too may well have wondered "why me?".  The administration knew you had CP when they hired and retained you.  

When it comes to firing or laying off people, it's best (from the company's POV) not to get into the details/reasons.  They don't want rebuttals or arguments or face liability issues, so they just cut the cord.  It's done.

I wouldn't dwell on this.  Your new job is to find a new job and the sooner you start, the sooner you'll finish.

[NativeFraulein 242]

Thank you everyone.  I have read the posts thus far and it's worth the time to look into and apply for government job positions. I have never done this before and besides the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and Bundeswehr  websites are there any databases I might have luck with? I also have an appointment with the Arbeitsamt tomorrow.  Pardon my ignorance, this is the first time in many years I am attempting to branch out from the education sector. 

[kiplette 8,712]

If you are interested in the Bundeswehr, then @klingklang77 has been successful and is about to start in October I think, so she may be happy to enter into a conversation with you about that, although you may have done that already, of course.

 

The Arbeitsamt has the reputation of just getting you a job regardless of suitability. Hopefully that's not true of all of them, but it's worth bearing in mind.

 

Honestly your students and colleagues have been enthusiastic about you and so turning away from something you find fulfilling and are good at may not be necessary (Says someone who merely dabbles in a bit of teaching these days and wouldn't take on a proper job willingly )

 

All the best tomorrow. Keep asking questions here - as more people see your post, no doubt more ideas will flow.

[NativeFraulein 242]

1 hour ago, catjones said:

You're old enough to truly know what "different" means.  As you noted, others have lost their jobs as well and they too may well have wondered "why me?".  The administration knew you had CP when they hired and retained you.  

When it comes to firing or laying off people, it's best (from the company's POV) not to get into the details/reasons.  They don't want rebuttals or arguments or face liability issues, so they just cut the cord.  It's done.

I wouldn't dwell on this.  Your new job is to find a new job and the sooner you start, the sooner you'll finish.

1 hour ago, catjones said:

You're old enough to truly know what "different" means.  As you noted, others have lost their jobs as well and they too may well have wondered "why me?".  The administration knew you had CP when they hired and retained you.  

 

 

It must be noted that job interviews as well as hiring during the Covid era has meant that many people, myself included, did not attend in person interviews. job fairs used to be part of the standard international school hiring process, but they have since gone the way of Zoom and it is within reason that a person's physicality might not be taken into consideration if not relevant to the job.  

 

 

Certainly, my previous employer realized my physical difference within the first few weeks of working together but cerebral palsy was not mentioned during the initial recruitment process. The condition has never affected my ability to teach so I didn't mention it.

 

 A dilemma that I now face is whether to bring up the issue of my ‘disability status’ during the next job search and thus I created this thread. I would rather not but the question I have raised in this conversation is if social ideas and norms surrounding the concept of ‘disability’ mean I should if for no other reason to avoid a bad outcome again.

 

 

 At no point have I been dramatic as to wonder ‘why me?!’ Like I said, I came to terms with my predicament a long time ago. In fact, I am grateful I lived because I nearly died at birth and went through years of physical therapy just to get where I am now. You are right about age---I am at an age now that if someone doesn't want to accept me because I walk differently I am out of there. 

 

 

 

[jeba 4,363]

This may be a case where well-intended legal protection of disabled people backfired. The mere fact that you're holding a Schwerbehindertenausweis means you're a higher financial risk to the employer (more holidays, more difficult to get rid of etc.). Of course, they won't tell you that, but it may have been at least part of the reason.

[LukeSkywalker 7,631]

Companies and organisations receive (substantial) grants when employing people with a Schwerbehinderung status of at least 50%. If they don’t, they have to pay a so-called Ausgleichsabgabe depending on the size.

 

I understand you didn’t mention your status before since it didn’t affect your teaching, but when you apply for jobs especially at governmental institutions, it could turn out to be an “advantage”. This is worth considering. Perhaps the Arbeitsamt could give you some advice in this matter.

 

PS- I also believe it’s not worth speculating about the reason for your dismissal.

 

More info: https://www.lohn-info.de/schwerbehinderte.html

[catjones 1,693]

20 hours ago, NativeFraulein said:

it is within reason that a person's physicality might not be taken into consideration if not relevant to the job.  

 

I tend to disagree.  From what you said, you didn't bring up your CP during the interview process because you didn't think it was relevant.  After discovering your condition, the employer might have felt you were not forthright.  They might have a different opinion of relevance even if you disagree.

I think a better approach would be to lay all your cards on the table and let the discussion begin.  That way, you are being open and upfront which might actually be in your favor.

A poor analogy would be someone being interviewed on Zoom, getting hired, only to find out they are wheelchair-bound and the school is not ADA (whatever it is in Germany) compliant.  Yes, you can still teach, but you can't get to the classroom.