Not sure this is an 'appropriate' place for this, but I figure I'm a dev and this place is for dev related topics.
Like so many others, I've been in the job market for months. However, unlike others (I hope) I've been running into countless instances of illegal behavior.
I haven't dared say these things on my 'regular' platforms for reasons I'll get into later.
I guess a bit of relevant backstory first
I've been coding for over 20 and across several industries, all while "figuring it out". I've seen a great many things, built and fixed a great many others, and led and mentored other devs across time zones. It was tough in the moment, but I'm better for the struggle.
A little over 4 years ago I almost died from brain cancer and again from the surgery to remove it. I spent a month in the hospital recovering. Relearning how to walk, talk, and even swallow. I'm not sure when, but my amazing wife got something to click in my messed up head and light a fire under me that I've continued to stoke. That flame (determination) got me out of the hospital far faster than my medical team expected.
The next five-ish months I had a walker to get around and went through weeks of radiation, PT, and OT. I don't remember when I was capable of walking down my stairs to my office again, but I suspect it was after I graduated to only needing a cane.
I was able to come back to work before long-term disability kicked in, but had to come back slowly and with some accommodations. This was still mid-covid-lockdown, so I was able to be remote this whole time. My direct manager at this point was unfortunately promoted to the role 2 weeks before my leave. I have some management experience, so I felt bad for the position my situation put them in. At least until they started trying to write me up for things I had accommodations written for. When layoffs came around I was the only one on my team let go. I'm not saying I was let go because of my disability...just that it doesn't look good.
I had been at this company so long the severance was actually good. I don't hold any ill-will towards the company despite getting laid off.
"Ok, so don't let anyone know what I'm dealing with."
I spent 2 years at the next company moving between roles and even being moved pretty quickly to a lead role. No one knew about any of my issues or why I took whole days off for appointments (scan days bork my mental health). I still talk to my PM from there and finally just spilled the beans. Didn't change a thing between us - amazing. Two years in and the company gets acquired - all of us contractors are unemployed over night.
There were a couple of other contracts I was able to find since then, but I've been looking for my next role for months now.
FWIW - I'm still not able to drive safely or walk a straight line. Turning my head causes me to get vertigo (to over simplify things).
Welcome to the struggle bus!
Since finishing my last contract in early October I've been hit with one large life event after another. Like one or two per week - it's stupid. I can get into it in the comments, but not the point here. Just pointing it out for the context.
As I'm sure every dev who's in the job market these days is aware, just about everyone has switched to on-site or some form of hybrid. I used to have a 1+ hour commute every day, so I'm willing to do that. My body, on the other hand, says "no way".
In the last 6 months of being in the job market I've had a single experience where my inability/disability even felt handled humanely or with empathy. All other cases I've had the metaphorical door slammed in my face. Including a local company built on a religion that states followers should take care of the sick, disenfranchised, etc..
My frustration
I keep getting a "we really want this candidate to come into the office X days per week. Sorry."
I tell them I understand their position, which is true, and thank them for their time. I figure I don't want to work at a company that is this ignorant and unwilling to even consider reasonable accomodations.
Thinking back to all of these sorts of statements I find myself thinking something like "Well that's all fine, but I don't get a choice."
I don't know that I'm capable of articulating the level of frustration and feeling of helplessness from this situation in a way that the mods here will find acceptable. I'm being turned down because of my disability (inability to safely drive) and can't do anything about it.
I worry about saying anything on my 'regular' platforms for any sort of 'backlash'. Being a dev is essentially a purely cognitive role. My concern about posting about it is the concern from potential future employers thinking I'm not capable due to having brain damage.
I might actually be more capable since my surgery. I find that I'm able to think more clearly these days.
4 years ago I had weaponized my neurodivergence. I'm working on doing the same with my brain cancer stuff.
For that matter, I launched my own SaaS a bit after my last contract finished, if anyone's interested in a post on that. 😉
TL;DR
Basically everyone I talk to employment-wise breaks federal (US) ADA and anti-discrimination laws and I don't know how to handle it.
It's disgusting that I'm even in this situation and my heart goes out to those in similar and worse situations. It's incredibly frustrating and demoralizing and I feel like I'm at the end of my rope.
I guess I'm really looking for ways to help me navigate this issue after venting a bit.
Top comments (2)
Hey David. I hope you are doing well! Thank you for sharing your experience. I am sorry you have to go through your time with brain cancer and I am glad you are recovered! Truly remarkable and kudos for not giving up so far!
I believe this needs more attention in regards for those of needing accommodations when doing job duties. It is quite interesting to hear your experience about the layoffs and things you have seen in the market. For me, I am currently (kind of) on the job hunt and reading about your experience makes me wonder about the morality between the health of employees Vs. Profit of the company.
I mention this because of my OCD revolving around technologies. I don't want to go into detail because it is painful to think about, but it makes me wonder how companies handle disability and to what extent.
When you mentioned "When layoffs came around I was the only one on my team let go. I'm not saying I was let go because of my disability...just that it doesn't look good.", it breaks my heart. It felt malicious in my opinion because of your disability and to think that they use the term "layoff" as an excuse. Whatever the case may be, I am genuinely sorry that you got lay off.
I am glad you are still doing okay and great job on the SaaS app! Me personally, I would love to see you share on what you have built! I bet other people will invest into your project and maybe contribute to it (if you want!)
All I could say is don't give up. It's very generic and to be fair, you have more experience than me since I been in the development world for 4 years. I bet there will be someone out there that cares for you and see your talents regarding of disability. All it matters is skills! If you can get the work done while having a disability, it's more impressive to me in my opinion.
Thank you for sharing. I added the "#discuss" tag to this post since I believe this needs more attention to the community and I am confident we can support you in any way. Feel free to remove the #discuss tag if you like. This action is based in my opinion!
I hope your journey goes well for you. Don't give up! We are all here for you.
This is a deeply personal and candid post by a developer named David, who shares his struggles with the current job market after surviving brain cancer. It’s a powerful reflection on disability, resilience, and the systemic challenges faced by developers who require remote work accommodations.
The Journey of Resilience
David is a seasoned developer with over 20 years of experience. Four years ago, he faced a life-threatening battle with brain cancer, which required him to relearn fundamental skills like walking and talking. Despite this, he returned to work with incredible determination, eventually transitioning back into lead roles.
The Modern Job Market Barrier
The core of David's frustration is the industry's widespread shift back to on-site or hybrid work. Because of his medical history, David:
He highlights a troubling trend: multiple companies have effectively rescinded interest once they learn he cannot meet their in-office requirements. He points out that this often borders on or crosses into violations of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and anti-discrimination laws.
Navigating the "Invisible" Struggle
David touches on a common fear among disabled professionals: the worry that being open about a history of "brain damage" (even if cognitive function is unaffected or improved) will lead potential employers to unfairly question their competence.
He ends the post by seeking advice on how to navigate these hurdles, while also mentioning that he has since launched his own SaaS project—a testament to his enduring passion for building.
This post serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of accessibility and empathy in the tech industry, especially as work-from-home policies continue to evolve.