In an article published by the Museums Association, Stacey Smith, who works on the commercial services team at the London National Gallery, detailed her experiences living with fibromyalgia in the workplace. Ms. Smith explained that she although she mitigates her symptoms of chronic pain, brain fog, and fatigue by reducing her stress levels, there is currently no cure for fibromyalgia. With a diverse set of obligations every day, she emphasized the importance of workplace accommodations. Through the Access to Work scheme, Ms. Smith received funding to take a taxi to work, an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, an adjustable chair and leg rest, and programs to help her perform specific exercises to relieve stiffness. Further, she noted that she is able to schedule her workday around her medication schedule and swap responsibilities with colleagues if her chronic pain prevents her from completing her usual tasks. Ms. Smith emphasized that because employers may be afraid to hire individuals with physical limitations, many candidates who are disabled may be missing out on opportunities to work in museums. “If a candidate applies for a role, they’ve already made the assessment that they can perform to a standard that they think [is expected]. The museum sector can be rigid in its thinking and behaviors, and we need to be given a chance to show how dynamic and engaging we are,” underscored Ms. Smith. She concluded that in order to improve the experiences of employees who are disabled, employers should reduce bias by promoting a view of disability as a spectrum, provide tools to fully support those with physical and mental health issues, be understanding when tasks cannot be completed as a result of physical restrictions, and recognize that disability is part of a human experience.
September 21, 2023