This information is for all students with disabilities. Included in this are students
who feel they may have a problem, such as Dyslexia, which may not have been fully
identified at school.
Most of the Careers Advisory Service is wheelchair accessible. There is always someone
in the information room who can help you.
Remember to use this web page in conjunction with the rest of the Careers Service web
pages, where you will find much valuable information on CVs, postgraduate study and many
other issues.
We have a "Starting Points" Information Sheet in large print for students with
disabilities. You can pick it up from Careers Service reception.
The File for Students and Graduates with Disabilities, No. 023 in the Careers
Information Room contains vacancy information, publications, sources of help and training
schemes for students with disabilities.
We have a photocopier in the Careers Service which can enlarge text. Ask at reception if
you wish to have materials copied.
A number of employer brochures and application forms are now produced in Braille or
large print, a number now have on-line application forms on the web, which may be easier
to complete if you have a disability. Contact the employer directly for these if we don't
have copies. Some employers may be willing to accept a word processed application if
you have dyslexia, for example.
We now have sub-titled videos on applications and interview skills and selection
centres. Ask at Careers helpdesk to view these.
There is an audio cassette version of this
web page which also covers interview skills. Ask at Careers helpdesk if you would
like to borrow this. The RNIBwww.rnib.org.uk holds a range of careers materials in
Braille and audio cassette format.
If you wish to see a careers adviser you can drop in to see the duty
careers adviser for a short discussion without an appointment between 10.30 am - 12.30
p.m. and 2.00 - 5.00 p.m. every weekday. If you require an appointment for a careers
interview, please make an appointment at Careers helpdesk or 'phone
extension 3299. These normally last about 45 minutes, but please let us know if you
think you will require extra time because of your disability, and we will accommodate
this. If you require an auxiliary aid (e.g. sign language interpreter, do please let us
know well in advance, so that this can be arranged.
The Disability Support Unitwww.kent.ac.uk/ddss
is in Keynes College. Telephone ext. 3119 or 3158. Minicom 01227 823158
All students, including students with disabilities, have the same problem.
You can’t get a job without experience or experience without a job. So
how do you overcome this? You will be pleased to hear that a number of employers
and some charities, offer work experience schemes specifically aimed at students
with disabilities.You can also consider
CSV (Community Service Volunteers)www.csv.org.uk CSV have a non-rejection policy
and offer placements of 4-12 months, working in the community with other people.
Accommodation, food allowance and pocket money are provided. For more details
contact: CSV 237 Pentonville Road LONDON N1 9NJ Tel: 020 7278 6601 E-mail: information@csv.org.uk
There are a number of employers who have an active policy of employing graduates with
disabilities. You may want to target some of these in your job search. You can obtain
details from:
Diversity Milkroundwww.diversitymilkround.comlists over 300 top UK based companies wishing to promote diversity within the workplace and offering internships, industrial placements and graduate positions. Candidates can choose to receive information about certain areas of diversity (age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity). This will include general information and any government legislation relevant to people from minority groups, information regarding jobs/courses/events, information on diversity societies around the country and the chance to speak to other candidates or employers in the forum.
The Employers Forum on Disabilitywww.employers-forum.co.uk Nutmeg House, 60
Gainsford Street, London Tel. 0207-403 3020. Has a membership list of disability-friendly employers
Disabled Workers Cooperativewww.disabledworkers.org.uk registered charity. Includes on-line database of the skills, services and products disabled people have to offer. Disabled individuals and organisations employing disabled people can register their details for FREE. E-Jobs Portal - disabled job seekers are able to search for and apply for jobs on-line.
The Department of Works and Pensions can supply the names of
"double tick" employers who guarantee an interview to applicants who meet the
basic criteria for the post and declare a disability.
Individual employers:
HSBC and PriceWaterhouse Coopers have a diversity manager.
BT claims a positive approach to disability and equality generally in its recruitment
and has taken a number of positive steps to increase the number of applications from under
represented groups in their workforce
Barclay's Wealth. In partnership with EmployAbility, Barclays Wealth is presenting disabled students, who are interested in learning more about private banking, a fantastic opportunity to gain experience and a very real insight into working in this specialist area. Barclays Wealth is an organisation dedicated to helping clients get the most from their wealth by acting as their guide. With access to the entire resources of the Barclays Group, we are able to provide services and expertise to make a difference whether clients want a close personal relationship or simply direct access to trading. At Barclays Wealth, we believe we have the best international training programme that the Private Banking industry has to offer. Whether you’re about to graduate with a degree, Masters or MBA, or are looking for internship opportunities, Barclays Wealth offers a unique opportunity to make your mark in this fast-moving industry. For more information about the programmes and details on how to apply, please go to www.employ-ability.org.uk/internships.html#barclays_wealth
Closing date has now passed for 2010 entry but shoudl be available in October 2010 for the following year
Organisations which arrange work placements for students with disabilities and
graduates
Disability Toolkitswww.disabilitytoolkits.ac.uk a national resource that aims to help disabled students access and manage valuable off-campus learning activities, such as work placements and field trips. Provides information, advice and sources of support for disabled students; for academics involved in organising work placements, and for prospective employers.
The BBCwww.bbc.co.uk/jobs
has offered work experience placements to people with disabilities over the past few
years.
Current Vacancies and Opportunities
Employability
EmployAbility is the not-for-profit organisation that facilitates and manages the selection and recruitment for disability inclusive employers seeking to attract and recruit disabled people onto internships, graduate programmes and other permanent roles. All of our opportunities are open for students/ graduates with disabilities, including dyslexia.
Working in partnership with leading global firms, we are currently recruiting for exciting opportunities listed below. Closing dates vary for each programme and the firms mostly recruit on a rolling basis, this means you really must submit your application form before the closing date, as early as you can. Spring Programmes are ideal if you are in your first year at university (or second year on a 4 year course) and Summer Internships for penultimate years and above. Internships usually last from 8 – 10 weeks over the summer and are well paid. Spring Programmes are generally for one week during the Easter holidays and although not paid, expenses will be covered.
You will submit separate application forms for each programme to EmployAbility who will support and advise you throughout the recruitment process.
Here is a list of our opportunities for 2009:
Barclays Wealth Spring and Summer Internship Programmes
Barclays Bank Summer Internship Programme
Credit Suisse Summer Internship Programme
Dow Chemical Internships and other programmes
Financial Services Authority Summer Internship and Graduate Programme
Goldman Sachs Spring and Summer Internship Programmes
Herbert Smith Vacation Programmes (Winter, Spring, Summer) and Training Contract
Mayer Brown Vacation Programmes (Spring, Summer) and Training Contract
Merrill Lynch Summer Internship Programme
Morgan Stanley Spring Insight and Summer Internship Programmes
To apply to all of these vacancies, please go to the internships page on the EmployAbility website www.employ-ability.org.uk and follow the internships link. You can find full information about each programme and download an application form. If you have any questions, please call Sarah Denness from EmployAbility on 07852 764 684 or email sarah.denness@eability.org Make sure you don’t miss out on these exciting opportunities – apply now!
SCOPE LEADERSHIP SCHEME
This is a 1-year paid scheme for disabled people consisting of 2 x 6 month professional placements with large organisations such as Capital One, The National Assembly for Wales , Pearson Edexcel and many more. All information can be found at www.scope.org.uk/graduates
You may be concerned about discussing your disability at any stage of the
application procedure. You may feel that some employers will look no further
than your disability and fail to see your other abilities. At any stage of the application procedure, it is important that there is mutual trust
between you and the employer. In other words, you both need to present a clear picture to
each other of what is on offer.
You need to be able to trust one another enough to be open about disability issues and
how they could and could not affect the job in question. There are some very clear legal
reasons why you should, at some stage, put the employer in the picture regarding your
particular disability. If you exclude your disability, you may jeopardise your future job
prospects and unfair dismissal rights at a later stage. If an accident at work happens, as
the result of an undisclosed disability, you could be held responsible under the Health
and Safety at Work Act (1974).
Some employers want to employ more disabled people - they may have an equal
opportunities policy. Look for the Employment Service two ticks Disability Symbol on job
adverts. There are now over 250 employers involved in the Employers Forum on
Disabilitywww.employers-forum.co.uk
Our Disabled Graduates File, No. 023 in the Careers Information Room will have
details on a number of these employers. Don't however, limit your applications just to
these employers.
You can describe your disability in a positive way (see below).
The interviewer will be better prepared to discuss your disability at interview. If they
find out about it at interview they may "panic" and start to ask irrelevant
questions.
The application form may ask questions about your health. If you give false information,
you could risk losing your job.
If you get an interview, you know that the company is likely to be positive towards
disabled applicants. Conversely, you may not wish to work for a company that would reject
you if you state your disability in your application.
You can get help via your Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at the local job centre.
Disability Service Teams (DSTs) may also help. They aim to provide a coherent advice and
assessment service for employers and disabled people. There are about 60 DSTs nationally
which can be contacted via your local job centre. They offer the Access to Work Programme
(ATW). This may help with equipment or transport costs to do a particular job.
You can go to an industrial tribunal if you feel you are discriminated against during
the application process. Employment is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
If you have declared your disability, the employer cannot dismiss your application because
of your disability if there can be a "reasonable adjustment in the workplace".
For example if specialist computer equipment allows you to overcome your disability the
employer must consider your application. However if you don't declare your disability, an
employer could say they did not know.
You can make your declaration at the application stage, when you are invited to an
interview, or on the day. This very much depends on your disability. If your signature is
revealing or your school or university record shows special needs, you may prefer to make
your declaration at the application stage. You may be asked health questions on a medical questionnaire or on an equal
opportunities monitoring form. These forms are separated from the main application and
used by the personnel department to see if they are attracting a representative mix of
candidates.You can enclose a covering letter with an application to sell yourself further, but
also to explain your disability in a positive light.
If you have to make special arrangements to attend an interview (for example, physical
access to the building, extra time on tests), you can raise matters in your acceptance
letter, stating clearly and concisely if you require any equipment or facilities on the
day. This will save embarrassment for both the employer and applicant.
If your disability is not apparent, such as Dyslexia or Epilepsy, or physically or
sensorily restrictive, you can give details on the day of the interview. In general, it is
usually agreed that to declare before the interview is better. It then allows the
interviewer to prepare for the interview, rather than presenting them with a situation for
which they may not be prepared. However, if you are the sort of person who is better at
explaining things face to face, then you could try this.
Disclosing in a cover letter or an application form can often guarantee an interview if you satisfy the minimum criteria for the job. You can then discuss at interview how your disability either doesn't affect your ability to do the job, has developed skills that are relevant to it (e.g. overcoming challenges, creative solutions to problems) or how some reasonable adjustments can enable them to do it effectively.
Should you disclose a disability at the start or end of an interview?
According to research by Jones and Gordon of Duke University, candidates appeared more likeable if potential difficulties were disclosed early in the interview. Candidates who disclosed potential problems early on were thought by interviewers to have more integrity and strength of character and thus were not not attempting to mislead them. For more details on this research see the excellent "59 Seconds" by Prof. Richard Wiseman
At whatever stage you choose to declare your disability, it is important that you are
able to do so in a positive way. Your disability is one of many facts about you. Keep it
in perspective; it helps employers to do the same. Be prepared to state clearly and
concisely what your disability does and does not allow you to do and give details of any
equipment you use. Often simple solutions may exist. The employer may not be aware of the
possibilities. Try to have costs and available funding to hand. Your Disability Employment
Adviser should be able to assist with this.
Making a positive declaration can be difficult. It requires in-depth thinking and
self-assessment. You may not feel ready to do this and there may well be issues that you
wish to discuss with your Careers Advisor or a member of the Counselling Service.
Profile on a CV
I have a visual impairment (full details are available on request), but this has not in any way prevented me from successfully completing a demanding degree course and further education qualifications. Far from being a disadvantage, this has increased my awareness of the needs of others and has increased my determination to succeed and to persevere when obstacles are placed in my path.
This focuses on the applicant's disability, but rather than deterring the selector, it sells the skills the applicant has gained from overcoming their disability ; awareness of the needs of others, determination and perseverance. It is short, to the point and effective.
Other web sites with good information on disclosure
If you are ready to look at assessing yourself, try the Choosing a Career and
Skills web pages. When
choosing a career, don't start by focusing on your disability. Look at your interests,
skills, values and personality, and work out what you would really like to do first, THEN
consider the difficulties that your disability may cause and work out how you will
overcome these. To do it the other way round is to put the cart before the horse!
You could also ask yourself:
What are my strengths and weaknesses?
What have I learnt from my disability?
What difficulties have I overcome?
What strategies have I used to overcome my disability?
What transferable skills such as problem solving and flexibility have I developed
through managing my disability?
What beneficial effects has it had on my life?
Always use positive words and images - focus on what you CAN do, not what you
CAN'T. This way, when you get to an interview, you will be able to put the employer's
mind at rest and convince him/her to look at what you can contribute to the job
rather than focusing on what you can’t do.
The application form may have questions about your weaknesses or of course this may be
asked at interview. This can be an excellent opportunity to declare your disability
positively:
"Because of my visual impairment, I have had to develop excellent
listening skills. It has also allowed me to improve both my memory and my concentration,
this has borne fruit in my academic results at Kent where I have consistently
achieved good grades. The need to use computer aids has given me a strong interest
in this area and I have developed a good knowledge of databases and spreadsheets.
Finally, having a disability makes you more understanding of the weaknesses of
others, I feel that this has improved my ability to relate to people of all types
in a positive way."
Employers are often interested in hearing how dealing with your disability may have
increased your strength of character and determination - important qualities in any job.
The Disability Discrimination Act rules that employers (with 20 or more employees) must make arrangements to accommodate disabled employees. These changes include "reasonable adjustments" to:
training
working terms
provision of supervision
the allocation of some duties to other employees
Through JobCentre Pluswww.jobcentreplus.gov.uk you can see a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA). DEAs provide specialist support to people who have a disability or health condition who are having difficulty in getting a job because of their disability, and also to employed people who are concerned about losing their job because of a disability.
They can help an employer to make adjustments to working practices when you get a job. The DEA can refer clients to see a work psychologist for advice and support in terms of identified work needs.
A DEA is available at Canterbury Jobcentre, Northgate House, 115-120 Northgate, Canterbury, CT1 1EZ. Telephone 01227 594000
The Access to Work programme run by Job Centre Plus helps disabled people and their employers to overcome work related obstacles resulting from a disability. You may be eligible to claim any costs you incur for specialist support, e.g. sign language interpreters, during job interviews using a DP221 form which can be obtained from the job centre. They would also fund a ‘Job coach' or ‘support worker' during the initial stages of any employment.
You should make contact with the Access to Work team and the Job Centre as soon as possible and register before you start applying for jobs.
Skill: The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities www.skill.org.uk have an advice line for students with disabilities. They also have many web based information sheets including "Postgraduate Funding for Students with Disabilities" and "Applying to Trusts" (for postgraduate course funding).
EmployAbilitywww.employ-ability.org.uk not-for-profit organisation that facilitates and manages the selection and recruitment for disability inclusive employers seeking to attract and recruit disabled people onto internships, graduate programmes and other permanent roles. All of our opportunities are open for students/ graduates with disabilities, including dyslexia.
The Disabled Workers Co-operative www.disabledworkers.org.uk The site includes an online Database of the skills, products and services that disabled people have to offer; an eJobs Portal and a Directory of websites that list organisations, service providers and useful products for the disabled.
Disability Alliance www.disabilityalliance.org Publish the Disability Rights handbook and provide advice on social security benefits
The Shaw Trust www.shaw-trust.org.uk provides training and support to help people with all kinds of disabilities find employment
Youreable.com www.Youreable.com job opportunities, advice and discussion forums
RADAR www.radar.org.uk Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation. A national pan-disability organisation run by and working for disabled people
Premia www.premia.ac.uk resource base. Aims to make the research environment more accessible to disabled postgraduate research students.
Leonard Cheshire Disabilitywww.lcdsuitability.org provides services in support of disabled people in the widest context. These services include care homes, supported living, domiciliary support, day services, resource centres, rehabilitation, respite care, personal support and training and assistance for those looking for work.
DYSLEXIA The British Dyslexia Association www.bdadyslexia.org.uk produces an information
sheet on The Dyslexic Person in Employment
AUTISM and autistic spectrum disorders including Asperger's Syndrome
The National Autistic Society www.nas.org.uk includes the Prospects Employment Agencywww.nas.org.uk/prospects.
This is a specialised scheme accessed through a DEA/JobCentre. Through the service
they provide a support worker to brief the employer and work colleagues about Aspergers
and what to expect, ways to help the person settle in etc. They run a variety of courses and
are able to offer support once someone is in a job, in the first few weeks of the person starting work. Also has a
factsheet: 'What is Asperger Syndrome'.
Ask employers if you can take a support worker/friend/relative into the interview, and
brief the employer beforehand. Take a portfolio of work with you as it's important
to sell the work output rather than the person.
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilitieswww.learningdisabilities.org.uk provides
information about:- issues which affect the lives of people with learning disabilities.
Deringwww.dering.biz enables unemployed people to return to work by providing training and employment opportunities through a range of local and national government funded employment programmes including:
Coachability - sports coaching programme for disabled people;
Deaf Active - sports in London;
Deaf Employment Service - One to one advice and guidance on employment for deaf people in the UK;
Deaf Stepping Stones - Volunteering and work placement programme for deaf people with mental health or learning disabilities;
Sports Apprenticeships - Level 2 and 3 Sports Apprenticeship training for 16-24 year olds in Northern Ireland
The Royal National Institute for the Blindwww.rnib.org.uk has employment and student advisers and
holds a range of careers materials in Braille and audio cassette format. Visually impaired
graduates can receive details of vacancies at RNIB establishments by telephoning 01733
375209.
Blind in Businesswww.blindinbusiness.org.uk charity which exists primarily to help students and graduates into their first job after university. Help with completing job applications, interview practice, life coaching and assessment centre tests. Organise social network and evening events. Work closely with firms and other disability organisations to help secure summer internships. Flagship event is Education to Employment course in the summer. All
services are free. 75% of people that register find some kind of employment within a year. Phone 020 75881885 or email employment@blindinbusiness.org.uk
Colour Blindness - People need normal colour vision for these jobs:
commercial airline pilots, air traffic controllers, airport technical and maintenance
staff
aircraft pilots, engineers and signal engineers in the armed services
train drivers, railway engineers, maintenance staff and trackside workers
naval officers, merchant navy officers and all ranks engaged in watchkeeping duties, and
all submarine personnel
Customs and Excise officers
some engineers
workers in industrial colour quality control and colour matching
DirectGovwww.disability.gov.uk
Government information site with links to The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the
Equality and Human Rights Commission www.drc-gb.org
The Careers Advisory Service is committed to equality of opportunity in
keeping with the University of Kent Student Charter and the NUS/AGR/AGCAS Code of
Practicehttp://agcas.csu.ac.uk/News/Docs/Bpgr.htm
