Carla Gibson

About Me

My name is Carla Gibson, and I work as a Responsible Lending Complaint Manager at Lloyds Banking Group. I live with ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), partial deafness, partial sightedness, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and acute eczema. I am also a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed and treated at 31 years of age.

Alongside my day job, I am an Access Advocate and Neurodiversity Buddy, supporting colleagues and helping to promote a more inclusive workplace for everyone.

My Journey

If someone had told me when I was a student that I would go on to build a successful career in financial services, help shape conversations about inclusion and support others with disabilities, I probably would not have believed them.

Living with multiple conditions means that I experience the world differently from many people around me. Some of my conditions are visible, while others are completely hidden. ADHD affects how I process information, prioritise tasks and manage my attention. BPD can impact emotional regulation, particularly during periods of stress. My partial deafness and partial sightedness can create communication and accessibility challenges, while IBS and acute eczema bring their own day-to-day impacts that are often invisible to others.

Growing up and throughout education, I often felt I had to work harder than everybody else just to achieve the same outcomes. Like many disabled people, I spent years trying to fit into environments that were not always designed with people like me in mind. Looking back, I realise I was often masking difficulties and trying not to draw attention to my challenges.

What I did not realise at the time was that these experiences were helping me develop resilience, adaptability and determination, qualities that would later become some of my greatest strengths at work.

Today, I investigate complex customer complaints relating to responsible lending. My role requires attention to detail, problem-solving skills, empathy and the ability to analyse large amounts of information. The experiences I have had navigating life with disabilities and health conditions have helped me develop many of those skills.

My Experience of Recruitment

One of the most common questions disabled students ask is whether they should be open about their disability during recruitment.

My honest answer is that there is no single right answer. Disclosure is a personal choice.

Earlier in my career, I worried that people would focus on my disabilities rather than my abilities. I was concerned about being judged before I had the chance to demonstrate what I could do. Over time, however, I became more confident in understanding that requesting support is not asking for special treatment. It is about ensuring you have an equal opportunity to succeed.

I have found that being open about my needs has often helped create better outcomes. The employers and managers who have had the biggest positive impact on me have been those who have focused on my skills, potential and contributions while being willing to make adjustments where needed.

Workplace Support and Adjustments

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that adjustments are not about making work easier. They are about making work accessible.

Throughout my career, I have benefited from support including:

• Home working and working pattern arrangements
• Accessibility adjustments for technology and screens
• Closed captions and written notes during meetings
• Flexibility around medical appointments
• Clear expectations and priorities
• Managers who are willing to listen and understand my needs

For me, flexibility has been particularly important. Conditions such as IBS and eczema can be unpredictable and having the ability to manage my health while continuing to perform at a high level has made a huge difference.

I have also benefited from employee networks and inclusion communities. These spaces have provided opportunities to connect with people who understand the reality of living and working with disabilities. They have given me support, advice and confidence, and they have inspired me to become an advocate for others.

The Strengths My Disabilities Have Given Me

People often focus on the challenges that come with disability, but I think it is equally important to recognise the strengths that can develop because of our experiences.

My ADHD has made me creative, curious and solutions focused. I often see connections and possibilities that others might miss, and I enjoy tackling complex problems.

Living with BPD has strengthened my empathy and emotional intelligence. It has helped me understand the importance of listening carefully, showing compassion and recognising that everybody has their own challenges.

My partial deafness and partial sightedness have taught me adaptability and observation. They have also increased my awareness of the importance of accessibility and inclusive communication.

Managing IBS and acute eczema has taught me resilience, planning and self-awareness. Living with long-term health conditions has shown me the importance of balancing wellbeing with performance and knowing when to ask for support.

Overall, my disabilities have helped me develop a deeper understanding of people. In my role, which involves making fair decisions about customer complaints, empathy and understanding different perspectives are incredibly valuable skills.

Advice for Students

If I could offer any advice to students entering the workplace, it would be:

• Believe in your strengths: Your disability does not define your potential. The experiences you have gained may have given you valuable skills such as resilience, adaptability, creativity and problem-solving.
• Ask for support: Reasonable adjustments exist for a reason. You do not need to struggle unnecessarily to prove yourself.
• Find your community: Disability networks, colleagues, mentors and employee groups can provide support, guidance and encouragement when you need it.
• Stop comparing yourself to others: Everyone’s journey is different. Focus on finding ways of working that allow you to be successful rather than trying to fit somebody else’s model.
• Be yourself: The right employer will value your skills, your experiences and your perspective. You should never feel that you must hide who you are to succeed.

Final Thoughts

For a long time, I focused on what my disabilities made more difficult. As I’ve grown in both my career and confidence, I have come to see things differently.

My conditions are part of who I am, but they do not define what I can achieve. They have shaped my perspective, strengthened my resilience and helped me develop qualities that I use every day in my career.

If you are a disabled student preparing to enter the workplace, my message is simple: you belong there.

Your experiences matter. Your perspective matters. Your contribution matters.

Never underestimate the value that you can bring simply by being yourself.