Disability, mental and long-term health conditions, and neurodiversity

Source: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers/career-options/disability/ Parent: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers/career-options/

The Careers Centre recognises the importance of disability and inclusivity to careers-related issues. This page focuses mostly on disability, but the Careers Centre can also support you if you are a student of the University of St Andrews from a care-experienced background or supported pathway programme, with the Employability Bursary.

In England, Scotland, and Wales, the Equality Act 2010 requires employers to treat disabled people fairly, both during the recruitment process and in employment. \ \ You are disabled under the Equality Act if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. This includes depression, anxiety, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autistic spectrum disorder.

EmployAbility

EmployAbility is a non-profit organisation that supports neurodiverse and disabled students and graduates into employment. Register to access free support and a range of opportunities.

Reasonable adjustments

Under the Equality Act, employers must make reasonable adjustments for your disability, whether you are applying to an organisation or already working for one.

Examples of reasonable adjustments include:

• being giving more time to complete any psychometric tests or written exercises during the recruitment process (read Psychometric Tests - a guide for disabled candidates (AGCAS) (Word))
• allowing someone who uses a wheelchair to work on the ground floor of an office building
• providing assistive technology to someone who has dyslexia
• allowing someone with diabetes to take more frequent breaks to meet their dietary needs
• giving someone with social anxiety their own desk, rather than requiring them to share a desk with others.

For more details on reasonable adjustments, see Acas’ reasonable adjustments page.

Sharing your disability

Deciding to share your disability with an employer is a personal choice. In England, Scotland, and Wales, you are under no legal obligation to share this information unless you wish to do so, and it is for you to determine at which stage you wish to share.

• Sharing information about your disability: Six options for when to do it | AGCAS Disability Task Group Blog.
• Should you disclose a disability when applying for a graduate job? (TARGETjobs)
• Example of how to disclose a disability in a cover letter (Prospects)
• Benefits of being open and how to be open (My Plus Students' Club)
• Telling people you’re disabled: clear and easy guide for students (Disability Rights UK)

You may also find it helpful to book an appointment with a careers adviser to discuss being open about a disability.

Finding internships, work experience and graduate jobs with disability-inclusive employers

• Disability Jobsite
• Vercida Job Board - filter results by learning, mental, or physical disability
• My Plus Students' Club Work Experience for Students and Graduates
• Exceptional Individuals Jobs Board – for neurodivergent job seekers
• Enna Jobs Board – for neurodivergent job seekers
• Change 100
• Evenbreak - global disability jobs board

Professional associations, mentorship, networks, and skill development

• Scottish Women's Autism Network
• GetAHEAD – work mentoring programme for graduates in Ireland
• PurpleSpace – networking hub for disabled employees, employee network leaders, and their allies.
• Employability skills for autistic students and graduates (free online course)
• The Image Project’s Employability Toolkit for Autistic Students and Graduates

Support schemes and organisations

• Access to Work - a government scheme that can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability. The support you get will depend on your needs
• The Association of Disabled Professionals – seeks to improve the education rehabilitation, training, and employment opportunities available to disabled people.
• Scottish Autism - professional resources for women
• Disability Rights UK