Disability Equality and diversity in the workplace
This page outlines some of the support available to you in planning your career and entering the workplace if you have a disability, health condition, mental health condition or are neurodivergent.
Employment rights and reasonable adjustments
Employers should make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to help employees and job applicants with disabilities. They should be able to help with:
- application forms, for example providing forms in Braille or audio formats
- aptitude tests, for example giving extra time to complete the tests
- terms of employment including pay, discipline, grievances, dismissal, redundancy, promotion, transfer, and training opportunities
- interview arrangements, such as providing wheelchair access, communicator support
- making sure the workplace has the right facilities and equipment for disabled workers or someone offered a job
- work-related benefits like access to recreation or refreshment facilities.
GOV.UK provides information about your employment rights and the support available while you're looking for and in work. There’s also advice on what action you can take if you feel you've been discriminated against, either during the recruitment process or once you're in employment.
The Equality Act 2010 prohibits all employers, apart from the armed forces, from treating applicants with disabilities less favourably than those without. It also requires employers to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace and offer support, if necessary, to disabled people at work.
Access to work
The Access to Work scheme can offer further support if this isn’t covered by reasonable adjustments, and sometimes includes a grant to pay for special equipment or additional transport costs. It also applies if you're self-employed. An Access to Work (NI) scheme operates in Northern Ireland. Careers and Employability Services have produced a short webinar about Access to Work (sign in required) and how it can help you.
Mental health support with Access to Work
If you are in employment and have a mental health condition (it doesn’t have to be diagnosed), you’re entitled to free support through Access to Work. This could include one-to-one sessions with a mental health professional or a tailored plan to help you get or stay in work. There are two providers you can apply directly to, check your eligibility and how to apply on the GOV.UK Access to Work page.
Inclusive employers
When applying for jobs you may want to look for employers who clearly display a positive attitude to applicants with disabilities. As well as positive language on their website or in the recruitment literature, these indicators include:
- displaying a disability confident symbol – this means that if you have a disability you are guaranteed an interview provided you meet the criteria for the job
- being a member of the Business Disability Forum
- offering application forms in alternative formats.
Telling prospective employers about your disability or health condition
Sharing information with employers about your disability or health condition can feel challenging. You may have questions about whether to do this and if so, when, and how. Explaining a disability when applying for jobs has step-by-step advice for before, during and after the recruitment process, and podcasts on how to talk to an employer about disability, dyslexia and neurodivergence. Our e-learning resources include lots of advice about disclosing your disability, finding disability inclusive employers and tips for job hunting. You'll find more information about our careers tools and services, including how to manage your data, in About the Careers and Employability Services. There’s also information and advice on how to explain a disability to an employer in CVs, applications and covering letters in Your career planning guide.
Support organisations
There are many organisations that support people with disabilities or health conditions in the workplace. Some cover disabilities as a whole, while others focus on supporting a specific disability. Many have links with employers and opportunities. They have advice and information, and they can be on your side to offer help with job searching or getting the support you need in your workplace.
Below is a sample of these organisations or programmes. If you want to find other sources of support, for example specific to Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, contact the careers team.
Request a careers consultation
If you would like to discuss your options contact the Careers team.
