“I want to be Jorg, who has a disability, rather than ‘Jorg with a disability’”

Disability & neuro-inclusion

That’s also why we’re launching ING’s global Disability & Neuro-inclusion strategy today, to create a culture and environment where people with disabilities and neurodiverse conditions, and those that care for them, feel like they belong and can reach their full potential. The strategy aims to drive change, create equity and improve people’s experiences, by breaking down the barriers people face and ensuring everyone has the support they need to thrive. It will focus on areas such as leadership and culture, talent, accessibility and data & reporting.

Stepping forward

This year, we’ve chosen the theme of ‘stepping forward’ as we celebrate IDPD - a commitment as we look ahead to 2025 and beyond to foster a culture of open dialogue on disability and neurodiversity. And that includes all of us; everyone is part of the conversation, and everyone can be an ally.

That conversation continues here. Where we’ll hear from three colleagues from ING and their lived experience of disability and neurodiversity. Jorg Landheer is a member of the Customer Loyalty team who loves to help customers with their mortgages. He’s been with ING for 25 years – and has cerebral palsy.

Thanks for sitting down with us, Jorg! Can you tell us a little about your role at ING?

With pleasure! To put it simply, my job involves a lot of talking. I field questions and requests from mortgage brokers in the Netherlands, and over the last 25 years I’ve had many conversations across a range of mortgage matters. It’s a fun role, and one that suits me well, being the people-person that I am.

How do you manage the effects of your cerebral palsy at work?

It might be helpful to start by explaining a bit about what cerebral palsy is. Essentially, my brain is overworking. Take for example a simple motion like raising your right hand. When most people do this, their brain will send a signal directly to their hand telling it exactly what to do. For me, there’s some miscommunication involved! My brain sends a signal to my hand, but also to other parts of my body, causing involuntary movements. This means I’m in a constant state of tension, and so there are certain tasks that take a lot of energy.

I’m fortunate in some ways as my job largely depends on me using a headset and speaking with colleagues, and my need to physically move – which includes things like typing on a keyboard – are at a minimum. And while I’m still capable of doing these things, it just takes me a bit longer than the average person, so it’s not as effective. That’s true no matter the context: I can walk a marathon like any other able-bodied person, but just give me five days!

Is that one of the biggest misconceptions about your disability, do you think?

I suppose it’s always what people don’t see. The amount of energy I spend during a typically busy day is maybe much greater than others realise; I’ll usually return home in the evening and do as little as possible to recover in time for the next day. That tiredness can be overwhelming, which means I really need to use my free time in the right way if I want to be at my most productive when in the office.

This year’s theme around IDPD is ‘stepping forward’. What does that mean to you?

I interpret it in two ways. First of all, I think that it can be an action statement from all of us at ING. Those of us with a disability have an opportunity to ‘step forward’ and make ourselves known, to share more about ourselves and help raise awareness around accessibility. At the same time, we’re relying on our able-bodied colleagues to step forward too and meet us there, to show willingness to learn and be unafraid to ask questions. There’s nothing taboo about disability, and I personally feel I gain a lot when I listen to other people’s perspectives. In turn, I like to think I’m an approachable guy, and if people want to understand more about cerebral palsy, I’m always happy to help.

Secondly, I think about the destination – where do we want our efforts to lead? Ultimately, I want to be Jorg, who has a disability, rather than ‘Jorg with a disability’. I might need some extra support here and there, but really, I’m just another member of the team!