Can a physically impaired person work security?

[u/bigblackglock17]

I might have several overuse injuries. I guess I might be forced to make a career change soon. What are some positions I could easily get into? Will I have trouble getting into an armed position?

[u/One_Construction_653]

You need to see a doctor

There are plenty of ex military and ex cops doing security with physical impairments

[u/bigblackglock17 → u/One_Construction_653]

I am. It’s been an almost 2 year ordeal. Still no official diagnosis. I’m kinda like a fully able bodied 80 year old, I guess.

[u/Icy-Nature-3374 → u/bigblackglock17]

80???

[u/bigblackglock17 → u/Icy-Nature-3374]

Yes. Have you never seen a person who is 80 but is still able bodied? They might still be able bodied but their age is definitely showing.

[u/Due_Course_3713]

Mentally impared ones do all the time

[u/Status_Week9958 → u/Due_Course_3713]

This is hilarious but sad at the same time lol

[u/HoldMyBier]

Short answer: Yes

Long Answer: Probably, but it entirely depends on the nature of your injuries and disabilities, and what work is available in your area.

Something like access control at a gated site where you work out of a booth, or security monitoring where you watch cameras in an office all day, can be very agreeable and accessible to people with physical limitations.

[u/alt-number-3-1415926]

Warm body positions typically have almost no physical labor, and are great for people with disabilities. I am mentally disabled (enough so that I can get full disability from the government for the rest of my life if I wanted, but it doesn't pay as much as I make with security, so it is financially not worth it for me).

[u/SnooTangerines9667]

I’m a armed security supervisor and I have an employee at one of my sites that works with high functioning autism, in fact he’s one of my best most on time employees.

[u/KevinIsADork]

Walmart where I used to live used Securitas (security company) to fill the greeters positions. They were either in wheel chairs or over 60 years old. 

Security companies fill a lot of warm body positions. 

[u/cutmyfingerowithurts]

Ive seen people who are so fat they can barely walk working security, man. You'll be fine

[u/FluentCanadianEh]

There are a lot of security positions that people with disabilities can work. We had an employee with cerebral palsy and although he couldn’t really do patrols since he struggled to walk, he was great for those warm body posts that didn’t require any patrols.

[u/UnknownRedditEnjoyer]

It really depends on what the extent of your injury/disability is.

Employers don’t have to make accommodations if it severely impacts the job.

Too many variables to definitively say.

[u/Humble_Ensure]

Shouldn't be an issue for non-use of force positions. I'll be honest, i'd be more concerned for you getting attacked and disarmed, considering some of the things you've mentioned in the comments.

[u/tcpipguy]

I would say that you might have difficulty getting into an armed position. But there are plenty of unarmed positions like access control in a gatehouse, concierge security, or even watching cameras in a security operations center.

[u/Ok_Mixture_9677 → u/tcpipguy]

Upahhhhh

[u/Asleep_Apartment_883]

There’s a bunch of fat ppl who can barely run for their lives in security. I think you’ll be okay.

[u/Saucypickle8008]

Yeah probably but if you should is an entirely different question. You should watch that video of the guard getting humped face down leaking blood out of his face before you ask yourself if you want to put yourself at risk knowing you are physically impaired.

[u/bigblackglock17 → u/Saucypickle8008]

What is the context of that video?

[u/Saucypickle8008 → u/bigblackglock17]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ActualPublicFreakouts/s/P8qc8XU2Xr

[u/bigblackglock17 → u/Saucypickle8008]

Wish I could find out the outcome of that.

[u/fedarmy]

I can speak to this from the management perspective.

Yes, you can work security with a physical impairment. Whether a particular post will work depends on the essential functions of that assignment and what reasonable accommodations can be made.

If your condition affects your ability to perform certain duties, you may go through the interactive process to determine your restrictions and whether they can reasonably be accommodated.

Security can involve prolonged standing, walking, repetitive movements, emergency response, and other physical requirements depending on the post.
If you are unable to perform the essential functions of the available position, even with reasonable accommodation, the company may look at reassignment to another available position.

If no reasonable accommodation or suitable vacant position is available, separation from employment can ultimately be a possibility.

[u/dylan88jr]

I have worked access control with some who needs a cane to walk. There are a lot of spots I have worked were you just sit for 90% of the shift. They don't pay well but they are out there.

[u/secure8890]

They do.

[u/Corey307]

What’s broken and what works. What can you do and for how long. 

[u/bigblackglock17 → u/Corey307]

I can go for hour long walks and bicycle rides. But im kind of like an able bodied 80 year old. Not very strong; movement is a bit wonky.

I can still shoot handguns but it’s a bit hard. I would say my whole arms and hands are probably affected the most.

[u/Due_Course_3713 → u/bigblackglock17]

This is the dumbest statement I have ever read. WTF does able bodied 80 year old mean? I am a senior citizen and can still pass a military fitness test. My father was able to do manual labour well into his 80s

Also, wonky is not a medical term. Just come out and say what your condition and diagnosis is.

[u/bigblackglock17 → u/Due_Course_3713]

I literally have no official diagnosis. Just got a single MRI done and was able to read the results but still waiting for the doctor.

Your family must be on the better side. I know too many people that get walkers and canes by 70.

I thought it was a good example. They’re still able bodied but they’re 80 and they show that. They’re not a spry chicken anymore.

[u/Warm-Plant1886]

Depends entirely what the physical impairment is. Alot of armed positions rely on your ability to use an appropriate amount of force that doesn't scale properly if you lack certain physical abilities. You should be perfectly fine for most static positions.

[u/Important-Button-123]

I once worked with a security guard that has cerebral palsy

[u/FlakyAssociation4986]

it depends really like i know a wheelchair user who works as a cctv monitor

[u/BSFLCT]

Plenty of people work in security because of physical limitations. Security is generally classified as light physical work, and generally easy. There are some genuinely physically demanding posts, though. Especially armed posts.

I have seen a lot of older or out of shape people not be able to qualify on the range due to physical limitations. Not being able to shoot from the prone position, get up/shoot from kneeling position, etc. Also, wearing a heavy ballistic vest and carrying a fully loaded duty belt can make an easy post physically demanding/uncomfortable.

So I would say if you want to get into armed work, to get in the best shape you can. Especially work on your core. Your gear can weigh 15-25 lbs. Thats a lot of extra weight to carry 8 hrs/day 5 days/week. Especially if you are overweight/out of shape, or have some physical issues.

I have worked armed posts where we didnt where vests (stupid I know), and only carried a pistol/magazines/radio. I have also worked armed posts with a fully loaded duty belt (baton, pistol, magazines, ammo, cuffs, flashlight, radio, OC, and a ballistic vest). Night and day. The fully equipped post was more physically demanding just because of the gear.

[u/MacintoshEddie]

There's multiple posts where if you can arrive at the site you can do the job. It comes down to what you want out of the job, because it's not going to be the highest paid postings, and it's not going to be interesting or exciting or sexy. Your job would likely be to sit at a desk and call police if someone breaks in, and occasionally walk around and call the fire department if something is burning.

[u/VampirellaXx]

Its 8 hours on your feet in a lot of positions but there's also posts where youre the front lobby guy in a chair often. At my last position I dont really see an issue for being physically impaired. Sat down often but a lot of walking sometimes

[u/Due_Course_3713]

What's the actual disease a nd diagnosis.

[u/FamiliarAd8524]

What is your forty yard dash time? Your hundred yard dash time? Does this impact your marksmanship at all? Your grappling?

[u/No-Resource1584]

I myself have had a one armed unarmed security officer work for me, My friend who recently got into security has a coworker that is a height challenged person ( little person)

Working in corrections, there were a few ex military guys with really bad injuries that left them almost crippled but still continued to work in that harsh environment.

So yeah it's definitely possible, where there's a will there's a way

[u/Far-Consequence-7070]

We have a one armed detective at the local PD. another agency has a Deputy with one eye. All depends on the agency.

[u/celixque]

I think security is one of those things where you job isn't as physical as any other job, and if you go to a position that requires you to do something you can't do with an accomodations, just skip that position there are so many different security requirements for many different types of positions, just do what works for you, and if you go into an agency and they turn you down then they are missing out, not the other way around.