Career and job support for people with a disability
Help and advice to find and stay in work, for people with a disability or health condition.
How specialist advice can help
If you feel you are facing difficulties as a result of a disability or health condition, having specialist advice may help you to understand your rights and get support to reach your career goals.
It is illegal to discriminate against someone with a disability. In spite of this many disabled people still face challenges getting into and staying in the workplace. Schemes like Disability Confident can help you explore companies that are showing a commitment to hiring people with a disability and creating more inclusive work places.
Types of help available
Organisations offering specialist advice can help you to:
- explore your options
- understand your legal rights at work
- find out about funding and specialist support like Access to Work
- get advice that meets your specific needs
- access professionals like mentors, advocates and specialist advisers
Many charities are experts in understanding the challenges of a specific disability. They may be able to give you practical support to:
- find Disability Confident employers near you
- search for job opportunities and get help with the recruitment process
- disclose your disability during the job application process, at the best time for you
- ask for reasonable adjustments in the workplace
General help and resources
Organisations that can offer a broad range of support include:
- Job Help campaign from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- Disability Rights UK helpline and online careers advice support
- Remploy employment and skills support for people with disabilities and health conditions
- The Shaw Trust information and advice to find and keep a job and develop your career
Help at different stages or for specific disabilities
Some organisations offer support to you at different ages and stages of your career. You can find tailored help for your circumstances or the challenges of a particular disability or health condition. The following are some of the more well known organisations who can help with advice on:
School and college leavers
- Contact for families with disabled children - further education advice for families with disabled children
- UCAS – advice for disabled students on applying to university
- Gov.uk advice for young people with disabilities - to find and stay in work
Students and graduates
- The Association of Disabled Professionals – employment and self-employment advice
- Blind in Business - help for blind and partially sighted students to prepare for and find jobs
- EmployAbility – student and graduate job seeking advice, internships and graduate schemes for people with a disability
Learning disabilities
- Scope support to work - advice for every stage of your job search
- Mencap - support to access and stay in work
Sensory disabilities
- Action on hearing loss - help to find a job or get support at work, if you are deaf or have hearing loss
- RNIB equality rights and employment advice - for blind and partially sighted people
- Sense - support for people with sensory impairments who want to get into work
Specific learning disabilities
- Autism UK - advice for people with autism to find and stay in work
- Ambitious about autism - breaking down barriers at work for autistic people
- British Dyslexia Association – looking for work advice if you have dyslexia
- The Dyspraxia Society - guidance on coping with dyspraxia in the workplace
Mental health
- Mind Back to work support - help managing your money and bills when you're too unwell, and the advice to find a supportive employer when you feel ready to return to work
Physical health conditions
- MacMillan Cancer support - help with work if you have or have had cancer
- MS Society – employment and skills advice for living and working with MS
There are many other organisations that may be able to help you in your particular circumstances. If you need help to find the right kind of support, speak to one of our advisers.