Navigating the hidden costs of disability
Engineering thrives on different perspectives and ways of thinking. Yet disabled people are still underrepresented in the profession. According to Engineering UK , 14% of people working in engineering and technology identify as disabled, compared with 19% across other sectors. For many people, the biggest barrier isn’t their condition itself. It’s the extra costs and logistics that come with it. This is sometimes called the ‘disability tax’ – the extra financial burden that disabled people can face simply to access the same opportunities as everyone else. The disability tax The disability tax can take many forms. It might mean buying specialist equipment, adapting your home, paying for care, arranging accessible transport, or funding assessments needed to access support. For some people…