It is our mission at Yassir to make people’s lives better, whether it is our customers, partners or employees. In this series, we’ll present some of our colleagues at Yassir and give them space to share their own perspectives on the work they do, inside and outside Yassir.

My Story @ Yassir: Aymen Masmoudi

Have you ever felt like a square peg in a round hole? That’s how many people with disabilities feel in the tech industry, facing a real struggle to find a job, start a career and simply have a fulfilling life.

As a worker with a disability, having had to deal with certain difficulties has made me learn how to be more resilient and focused on problem-solving.

We aim to no longer see disability as an obstacle, but rather a challenge, and since we all have challenges of our own, each one of us can simply be seen as differently able.

Moreover, technology gives people with disabilities one of the best opportunities to learn, grow and work (hello remote work). I contend that people with disabilities can be a great assets for tech companies. Here’s why:

1 — We are real-life superheroes, we do more with less, we have higher-than-average motivation and adaptability.

2 — We are organization freaks, making plans, performing risk assessment and mitigating risks is our daily bread and butter.

3 — We are outstandingly good at explaining stuff, we explain to relatives and caregivers how to take care of us on a daily basis. And this requires a lot of patience and pedagogy. In the long run, it becomes second nature.

4 — We are willing to go the extra mile to stand out of the crowd and prove that we are perfectly able to succeed.

However, for this to work out, companies need to overhaul their recruitment process. Many disabilities aren’t visible and may not be recognised by hiring managers, notably because they tend to lack the knowledge of how to ask about this matter. Beyond ensuring there is no discrimination based on disability in the hiring process and workplace, companies needs to train their hiring managers and rethink the process for people who are differently abled.

Here at Yassir: Everyone is Welcome!

I’m grateful our team at Yassir works everyday towards building an accepting and empowering workplace for everyone no matter their situation. We don’t get everything right from the get-go but we’re improving. I’m glad to contribute to this culture that stands on principles of inclusion, diversity and care. We are lucky to have such a beautiful team and I can’t wait for us to grow further.