Clare: Thriving at work with a disability

Our Disability AWareness Network (DAWN) aims to raise awareness and combat stigma and stereotypes faced by people with disabilities, both visible and hidden.​

It focuses on developing insight and awareness, building confidence and helping build an inclusive workforce. The network also provides insight and feedback to help ensure Royal London continues to support colleagues, providing adjustments as required. ​

Clare, one of DAWN's members, tells us her story of thriving at work with a disability.​

An unseen disability

My name is Clare and I’m the Head of Technical and Marketing Compliance at Royal London.  I’m also a media spokesperson for Royal London. I’ve worked here for over five years. I’m married with three children. And I’ve had epilepsy since I was 12.  So that’s more than 30 years of dealing with and managing an unseen disability around which there is still a fair amount of stigma. There is no cure. I’m very fortunate in that my epilepsy is well controlled with medication. But that doesn’t mean I don’t think about it at least a few times a day. I might not have had a seizure for 12 years, but it could happen tomorrow. And being on constant medication has its challenges.  ​

For much of my life, I tried to ignore the fact that I had epilepsy. I didn’t want to tell people because I was worried that they would think differently about me. I’d tell someone who needed to know like a line manager but I would often only tell the people that I trusted. I felt I had to hide that part of myself because I didn’t want to be different. And that meant I was never really my authentic self at work.​

"I use it as an opportunity to raise awareness and explain what people can do to help"

But when I had my last seizures 12 years ago, I felt like I had to take ownership and talk about it more. I started to fundraise for Epilepsy Research UK and raise awareness about what epilepsy is and what people should do if they see someone having a seizure.  I’ve spoken to schools, youth groups and work, especially over the last five years. At Royal London, I’ve  organised fundraising activities, a including quiz nights, and have used these as an opportunity to educate and explain what people can do to help. It was an uncomfortable conversation for me at first, but it has become easier over time. ​

I’m a member of the DAWN Network which is all about raising awareness and combating stigma and stereotypes faced by people with disabilities, both visible and hidden. Not everyone has a disability, but we all share a desire to empower everyone to feel they can be themselves in the ways they're most comfortable. Even in a world where intolerance for inequality is at an all-time high, there is still stigma and stereotypes regarding visible and hidden disabilities. DAWN aims to achieve a consistent understanding and raise awareness of what disability means and how we can support each other.

Support from Royal London

It's important that we make Royal London a better place to work for all colleagues and it’s equally important that we attract and keep talent irrespective of disabilities.​

I don’t need any help day-to-day now.  But I might one day.  And knowing that I work somewhere where I can get the support I need is important. Having a disability hasn’t stopped my career progression at Royal London. Some of the things that I used to worry about 'will they think I’ll have a seizure and not want to speak at an event?’ or ‘will they treat me differently?’ – I never think about now. Having epilepsy doesn’t define me but it is part of me, and I know that the whole me is welcome.

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