Of the people with disabilities in the UK, half are employed, but this figure should be higher. With the right support, many more could join them in employment.
If you have a disability, you may be worried that it will limit your job prospects, or that you won't be able to find work.
But there’s lots of guidance, support and training to help you into employment. Government-backed schemes can help, while awareness-raising initiatives are challenging stereotypes about people with disabilities to ensure that everyone has a fair chance of working.
Know your rights
Whatever your physical or learning disability, you have a right to equality, fairness, respect and understanding at your workplace.
Employees and jobseekers with disabilities are legally protected against discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. You're legally entitled to fair treatment when it comes to recruitment, promotion and pay. It also means that employers must make their workplaces accessible to you.
It’s now recognised that working has health benefits. The government has pledged to help employers and the medical profession work together to get people with disabilities into work.
The help that's available is outlined in Directgov's section on employment for disabled people, which contains advice on looking for work, work schemes, support while you’re in work and employment rights.
Your local jobcentre can arrange an interview with a disability employment adviser, who is specially trained to help disabled people find suitable jobs. To find your nearest centre, see Directgov: How to contact Jobcentre Plus.
Directgov also has details of the "two ticks" scheme for disabled people. Employers that adopt this initiative take a positive approach to disability, and offer interviews to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum job criteria. Look out for the two ticks symbol on websites and job application forms.
Government support for disabled working
There are two government schemes to help you find suitable work: work choice and access to work.
Access to work is a scheme that provides money towards the cost of equipment or support workers that can help enable you to work. You can find out more by reading the information on Directgov about access to work.
Work choice is a scheme that helps people with disabilities who can't be helped by other work schemes. It can provide you and your employers with support. Find out more by reading the information on Directgov about work choice.
How employers can help disabled people
Dave Parr is a project worker with Disability Champions at Work, a TUC-backed organisation. He says that stereotypes about people with disabilities can be the biggest barrier between you and getting a job.
“The way to stop this is to educate people with meaningful disability awareness training," he says.
If you're disabled, or become disabled while in work, your employer should help you to stay in your job. Changes that your employer should consider (in consultation with you) include:
- transferring you to another post
- making changes to your place of work
- providing a reader or interpreter
You can learn more about the recruitment process for people with disabilities from an employer’s point of view at the Business Link website. Trade unions can also provide support.
Parr says, “In five years, Disability Champions at Work has recruited more than 600 representatives who champion disabled people's rights in the workplace.
"They've made a huge difference to the working lives of many people, and raised disability as a trade union issue.”
