Bethany, 28, has spent most of her working life in retail, but her dream was always to enter the digital design field. Limited local opportunities coupled with her diagnoses of autism, ADHD, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome—a rare genetic condition impacting her entire body—made consistent employment a challenge for Bethany. Ehlers-Danlos, in particular, affects her collagen production, leading to extreme fatigue, a constant struggle in her daily life.

"Every work place I've ever worked for in my entire life, I've always felt like the black sheep," she says. "I never felt like I ever truly belonged." This feeling, she later understood, originated from her neurodiversity, only diagnosed in adulthood. "This genuinely made me realise why for so long I never got on with anyone else and I was always made to feel like I was a child."

After leaving a full-time retail position in 2023, Bethany found herself struggling. An attempt at a zero-hour contract only worsened her situation. Eight months of unemployment followed, leading to depression and a sense of hopelessness.

"I became more and more increasingly depressed and had meltdowns...felt like my life was meaningless."

Driven by a need for purpose, she embarked on a fruitless job search, applying for over 200 roles. 

Despite having retail management and design experience, interviews often hit a roadblock when she discussed her need for disability accommodations.

"I got a couple of interviews, but the second I asked about disability accommodations in the workplace, the tone always seemed to change."

‍She felt employers saw her wheelchair and made assumptions about her professional competence. The physical strain of some roles, often requiring more labour than advertised, proved too difficult.

A turning point came for her when she enrolled in a Travel and Tourism course at Gateshead College. She volunteered at a college event, which turned out out to be a Smart Works jobs fair. This led to her reconnecting with Hays Travel, a company she previously interviewed with, and a referral to Smart Works. 

Bethany wasn't sure what to expect from her Smart Works appointment, and initially felt nervous.

"Not going to lie, I was nervous going in as I wasn't sure what to expect. And I'm not really into 'normal' attire."

The Smart Works team made her feel welcome and at ease.

"The clothing try on was honestly incredible. The two ladies were spot on and found me something that not only fit me super, but was comfortable, a little bit 'different' and made me not only look great, but made me feel great. I was over the moon."

The session provided invaluable interview preparation, including practical tips that she hadn’t considered before.

Securing the job with Hays Travel, she returned to Smart Works for a work wardrobe. Now, Bethany's life has transformed.

"I started my new job literally a week after my first appointment with Smart Works. With their help and advice I got the job 2 days after my appointment and the first time in 12 years, I feel like I'm finally somewhere I belong. It feels right for me, the team is fantastic and I love my job. Genuinely I ended up crying on my way home after finishing my first week at the job because I finally found where I was accepted..."

Bethany's story is illustrative of the transformative power of confidence and support, even in the face of significant challenges. This year alone, Smart Works supported 10,000 unemployed women across the UK.