I'm more than just my disability

I want to talk about self promotion, especially if you're doing it sitting down on a wheelchair and "bound" to it. As some of you well know, I live with a physical disability and that I use a powered wheelchair to get around. I also have helpers coming in to help with, what I'm assuming as pretty normal stuff like getting dressed, toileted, showered and assistance with getting breakfast and lunch made for me (I'm lucky that my family help me out with dinner, as trying to cook, assist with feeding - don't need much help there, I can do that myself thank you - and then cleaning up within the space of one hour tends to lead to some unhealthy options). Ok, I also have a postgraduate level social work qualification and a Masters to boot. I'm basically employable. Just check out my skills:

And, in no particular order...

1. I can work holistically, basically meaning I that I can work with the client and those they consider stakeholders in their lives.
2. I can run tutorials and other training programs, and generally think of myself as approachable and good natured for people to approach me with their questions.
3. Motivation to succeed. Once I commit to anything, I endeavour to give it my fullest attention.
4. I am also a team player. I ascribe to the philosophy that it takes a village to raise a child. This philosophy certainly can be translated into the ongoing success of any business or sports team, as it takes a team with complimenting skills to make a profit, expend or win the game.
5. I'm technologically savvy.
6. Personal experience of living with a disability. While that sounds like I'm actually married to the thing, I'm not. If I was married to it, I'll be endeavoring to divorce the thing as it's so needy. But, as my mate just pointed out, divorce is expansive. Still, there is a plus side to it. This experience, which is in addition to the set of skills and competence level that one is expected to have gained from a postgraduate social work background and a master’s degree (yes, I made it bald, italic. I have a point), equips me in having a unique insight and therefore better understanding of client’s needs, wants and desires, which would ultimately prove advantageous if I'm working as a... you guessed it: social worker.
7. I exercise, weight lift even.
8. This is also in line with the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust report, done in conjunction with the New Zealand Assembly of People with Disability, which states that the “experiences of staff with impairments can help identify the needs of other disability stakeholders. Organisations that create enabling environments for disabled people can gain a competitive edge by accessing the skills, talents and support of disabled people” (EEO Trust literature review, pg 19). How about that, having disabled people on the pay roll is a good thing.
9. I'm also sarcastically charming, good natured and believe in pushing my own boundaries wherever possible.

So why is that, every single time I ball into an interview and they know I'm disabled, they see this:

Ok, maybe not that. But I liked the picture, check out the guy who designed it for a neighbor of his.

But the thing is, they see the wheelchair and disability first because it's the most easiest to see.

Look, I'm not saying that every employer within the social services and health sector is blind sighted by the disability, as am in contact with a potential one and am waiting to hear about a rescheduled interview from another. There are people in positions of employing others who can and will see past the disability. Ok, rant over. Feel better now. Gonna take my tank for a drive.