Careers support for students with disabilities, health conditions and neurodivergence
Be disability confident
We understand that students with disabilities or health issues may need support with navigating recruitment as you begin to build your career.
Some of the ways we can support you are:
- Feedback on CVs, cover letters and application forms
- Finding inclusive employers
- Preparing for interviews and assessment centres
- Supporting in understanding disability disclosure rights
- Where to find further support
Please contact us at careersinfo@essex.ac.uk if you have any accessibility requirements. This could include an extended careers appointment or careers support by email or telephone, we can also adapt to support you in many other ways.
Disclosure and reasonable adjustments
Understanding UK Employment Law
There are many laws and systems in place to support workers when navigating employment. Learn more about the specific laws to support you.
Reasonable adjustments
The law (Equality Act 2010) states that employers must make reasonable adjustments for their employees as well as applicants applying to work for them. There are lots of ways an employer can make adjustments to support you in work and in recruitment. Read a helpful guideon reasonable adjustments. If you need support in understanding reasonable adjustments we can support you in a careers guidance appointment, to learn more please contact us at careersinfo@essex.ac.uk or book an appointment.
Resources
- Disability rights
- Access to Work Scheme
- Reasonable adjustments
- Clear Talents – profile tool for understanding reasonable adjustments.
- My Plus Student Club – a range of resources and support around disability disclosure and inclusive employers.
Applying for jobs with a disability or neurodivergence
Your strengths and skills
Start by recognising the unique strengths and skills you have acquired through managing your disability, long term health condition or neurodivergence and how these provide evidence to showcase what you have to offer in the workplace. You will have also gained lots of skills through your degree and other university activities. Learn more about embracing your strengths.
Finding inclusive employers
Most employers want to increase diversity in the workplace. You can identify which employers are particularly interested in attracting applications from disabled and neurodivergent applicants.
- Look for employers who are part of the Government backed Disability Confidence Scheme the Business Disability Forum or are a Mindful Employer
- Be aware of the targeted opportunities available to you (e.g., Change 100 internships).
- Check employer websites for equal opportunity policies, staff disability networks, employee profiles, disability awards and the disability confident employer logo.
- Look for evidence of inclusive recruitment materials; accessible applications, access to reasonable adjustments and application support contact details.
Find out more about identifying disability confident employers.
Positive sharing
Take time to plan and prepare what and how much you want to share and be ready to demonstrate your full potential.
State your requirements clearly and unapologetically for support and adjustments. If you are nervous about what or how to positively share your disability in an application you can seek support through an application support appointment.
Create a sharing statement in 3 steps
- State that you have a disability or – if you are happy to provide more details – provide a short explanation.
- Explain the implications.
- Request the adjustments you need.
Some students prefer to share more information and so might prepare an enhanced sharing statement. This includes the skills, strengths and experience you have gained because of your disability.
"I have autism, which can affect the way that I communicate and interact with others. For example, I find making eye contact difficult, which means I will require adjustments to the assessment criteria for my interview if it is to be assessed digitally. Autism also means that I have strengths and skills in other areas. These include working in a structured and logical way, having great attention to detail, and an ability to identify patterns and errors quickly. I am also very conscientious and committed to my work and so have good levels of punctuality, honesty, and integrity".
Learn more about disclosure and sharing statements.
Access support
Targeted job search listings
- EmployAbility
- Change 100 internships
- Evenbreak
- VERCIDA
- My Plus Students' Club
- Careers with Disabilities
- Exceptional Individuals Neurodivergent Jobs UK
- Diversity Jobs Group
Additional support
- Remploy Scope
- Disability Charity
- MyPlus
- Shaw Trust
- Blind in Business - getting blind and partially sighted people into work
- RNID - national hearing loss charity
- A symbol for non-visible disabilities
- Hidden Disabilities
- British Dyslexia Association
- Autistic Girls Network
- National Autistic Society
- Neurodiversity Hub - resources for students, employers and more
- The Donaldson Trust
For more information, advice and support, email careersinfo@essex.ac.uk or visit careerhub.essex.ac.uk to book an event or 1-1 appointment.
Further information can be found on our accessibility and wellbeing support pages.
