Konstantina Nouka, 24, from Oxfordshire, a law graduate and aspiring barrister, supports Muscular Dystrophy UK’s new employability helpline supporting people living with a muscle wasting and weakening condition in the workplace.
Konstantina, who was diagnosed with Ullrich muscular dystrophy in 2002, is undertaking her pupillage at Nexus Chambers. She’s had to face discrimination on her journey to the Bar and is keen to make change to pave the way for future disabled barristers.
Supporting Muscular Dystrophy UK, the leading charity for more than 110,000 children and adults in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions, which has set up the free helpline Konstantina is encouraging people to reach out.
The Employability Service will help people find suitable employment that works best for them as well as providing advice and support to help people that are already employed continue working in a way that is safe and sustainable.
The service is aimed at anyone with a muscle wasting or weakening condition, who is looking for employment advice and support. This may include, people looking for their first job, people who are newly diagnosed and worried about how their condition could affect their work or those whose needs are changing and who need help to continue to work.
Whether someone is at the start of their employability journey or years into their career the charity can support:
- Identify suitable job roles
- Write or update a CV
- Write a job application and/or cover letter
- Improve confidence
- Prepare people for interview
- Give information and tools to successfully advocate for their needs in the workplace
- Identify any Reasonable Adjustments that might be needed to be successful in a role
Konstantina Nouka supporting Muscular Dystrophy UK’s new employability service
Credit @MuscularDystrophyUK
Konstantina achieved an undergraduate degree at the University of Reading, a human rights law masters at University College London, before completing the Bar Course specialising in advanced criminal advocacy.
She said: “After five years of obstacles, several chest infections, and many hours of revision done from my bed, I’ve achieved what most people said I couldn’t do – I’ve secured pupillage and am a step closer in pursuing my dream to become a barrister.
“I’ve always had a desire to help vulnerable people who have been failed by the justice system. Experiencing inaccessibility and discrimination in the courtroom is an issue I come up against daily though, and I’m fighting to change this.
“It’s frustrating that I have to work ten times harder than others just to prove I belong to the Bar. As a disabled migrant, I don’t want to show any weakness because it will prove the people who think I can’t do this right. I know this is partly something to do with my own internalised ableism, but I also need to show others that disabled people have just as much to offer as everyone else.
“It’s great that Muscular Dystrophy UK has a dedicated person who can recommend resources and help support. It can be hard to explain your needs to people that don’t understand, so having the Employability Service it is really important.”