Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. It’s quite easy for others to make assumptions based on their own life experiences and what they think disability is. Some may not have any experience with disability and this is why it’s even more important for you to speak up for what you need. At first you may feel the shaking in your voice, but once you get the words out you will feel a sense of exhilaration for standing up for what you need. 

Your differences don’t need to be seen as blockers or bad things. I’ve been told that my hyperfocus and passion for things can make people feel uncomfortable and that it’s not “normal”. Last time I checked; being an engaged person was something that made me more productive and motivated to put my best foot forward in everything I do. If you have differences from your co-workers; it’s not a bad thing and instead helps you to broaden the mindsets of everyone you work with (which is a win-win for everyone!) 

You’re not alone. It’s easy to feel like you’re alone on an island and that you have no-one to help. Remember to rely on your support circles like co-workers, leads you trust, your friendly neighbourhood Diversity Equity and Inclusion team, and even your communities on LinkedIn! If you find yourself looking for someone to talk to and can’t find anyone; please feel free to drop me a line on LinkedIn. We’re in this together as a community and collective, and sharing our experiences helps us all grow.

When working with people with disabilities, treat them exactly as you would any other co-worker; with the respect and attention they deserve. If a co-worker with a disability asks for you to speak in a different way or present information in a different way; do your best to accommodate that ask. If it's not possible, consider why and be upfront with them, or work to help advocate for changes so that way it is possible. Make yourself a safe space for someone to open up to you about their disabilities.

We have 12 global Wise Communities that actively help us drive our diversity, equity and inclusion progress forwards. Our global Diverse Ability Network have regular check-ins, co-host DEI training company wide and have focus areas to improve disability inclusion and accessibility for our customers. For instance we have an Accessibility Guild that ensures Wise is accessible for everyone. We also have dedicated support networks for our ADHD Wisers and Autism Wisers, a safe space for people to share, support and connect. 

The Extra Care Team is a global team that helps to support our customers who are encountering unique life circumstances. We prioritise and advocate for vulnerable and disabled customers as well as the bereaved families of our deceased customers, ensuring they receive fair treatment, access to products and services, and personalized assistance when needed and possible. We also help to support our customers who are in high risk situations such as mental health crises. Where we may not be able to assist customers within Wise, we do our best to help signpost them to additional resources outside of Wise.