“Employable Me” is a tv series on AMI.
If you haven’t heard of or explored Accessible Media Inc yet i think it’s well worth a peruse. Groundbreakers for inclusivity in media, this not-for-profit has 3 broadcast services, TV channels in English and French and radio in English. Their tv channels can be accessed and enjoyed by diff and typ-abled Canadians alike as all programs are aired with open-format described video for the blind and partially-sighted as well as closed captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing. TV and radio programs from AMI aim to be a voice for diff-abled Canadians, not just providing accessibility to main-stream entertainment, but also creating tonnes of original content that is outside the expected box, pushing to empower and inform all viewers. There is so much thought-provoking, stretch-your-perceptions, real inspiration, telling-it-like-it-is stuff here – the kind of programs that can change you.
Of all their programs Employable Me is my fave.
The series is about Canadians with diff-abilities seeking employment.
Each episode features two participants who are usually vastly different to each other in terms of the medical conditions they are living with, ranging from physical disabilities to neurological conditions. Episodes begin with a to-camera interview (the interviewee looks directly at the camera) with each participant individually. Perhaps inadvertently this technique sort of mimics how they may present at a job interview and, no surprise, the participants often speak and behave in ways that do not meet “normal” expectations.
The episodes follow each participant’s unique story: the exploration of individual skills, passions and qualifications – some relating to their diff-ability (such as heightened attention to detail or advanced interpersonal skills) as well as their aptitudes, education and experience – and the variety of encounters and challenges they have throughout the process of their job hunt. Certainly not told through rose-coloured lenses, the potential employers behave in a range of ways and sometimes the participants end up with a job. But not always.
Practical details throughout raise and explore all sorts of subjects that many may not have considered beyond a cursory glance. Accessibility, for example, is not just about ramps and service dog access and may be far less complicated, less expensive or less limiting than some employers assume. Employment services and medical experts are consulted in many of the episodes but their efficacy and real impact can vary greatly. The unavoidable dependence on family members by a lot of the participants draws these additional characters into the episodes and reveals a multitude of additional themes like the struggles of parents to balance protection and empowerment, the questionable plausability of their kids ever achieving independence, the anxieties around managing future plans as parents age and the reality of low-income living conditions.
Employable Me takes an authentic and bite-size look at a larger issue – it’s time to debunk the employee ideal and make way for the ideal employee: the perfectly imperfect person in all it’s variations. There is no perfect candidate cut-out. There are, however, individuals specifically talented in tasks. This show exposes and explores the idea of Abilities to reveal that, contrary to popular belief, the best candidate for the job isn’t always found inside the box.
Check out the episodes of Employable Me and grow your own perspectives.
TOUGHERthan upshot
I love the way the episodes unfold, prodding me along, from discomfort to sincere affection and true empathy. From the start my mind is immediately swimming with preconceptions and assumptions. I feel uncomfortable. I know i shouldn’t feel this way which makes me feel even more uncomfortable. But as the format of the show is to jump back and forth between the two storylines and there are so many thoughtful details, both unexpected and those i can relate to or empathise with, i end up just letting go and taking it in. With the focus on the participant’s specific experience rather than the issue at large i am compelled to look beyond labels and consider only the individual. It is not hard to see the obvious value their abilities would contribute and that often the only thing barring the way is the perception of the people making the choices. The people with the power. Repeatedly i am shown how limiting and debilitating perceptions and misconceptions can be as well as how easily a willing and open attitude can lead to beautifully simple empowerment and obvious win-win results.
The subject of employment for people with diff-abilities is not an easy or pleasant one to unpack – it’s one of those uncomfortable topics many would rather not look too closely at (here’s a bit more on the subject if you are up for it). In Canada, with the COVID pandemic, the general unemployment rate is under 15% (before COVID it sat around 5%). Yet for people with diff-abilities the unemployment rate pre-COVID was around 50%!
Many diff-abled people WANT TO and are ABLE TO contribute.
So what makes these people unemployable? What have you heard? What might it take to change the status quo? What part do you play? What part can you play?
Once again a useful step is to acknowledge our perceptions may be misleading us. Taking time for things like watching an episode of Employable Me with family or friends and having a conversation about it is an intentional act that helps shift perceptions.
For an international angle check out the British and Australian versions of “Employable Me” (productions of BBC and ABC, respectively).
Do you notice any cultural differences?