Unleashing ambition supporting disabled students to become job ready

Agenda What is ‘disability’? Facts and stats Barriers to employment and how to address these Employment: preparing for success Openness Statement Resources

What is ‘disability’?

What is Disability? A person has a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities.

Arthritis Asperger’s Syndrome Anxiety Bi-polar Cancer Cerebral Palsy Depression Diabetes Down’s Syndrome Dyslexia Epilepsy Hearing Impairment HIV +ve Muscular Dystrophy Spinal Cord Injury Visual impairment ….

Facts and Stats 14% of students in UK Universities have a disability Disabled students find it harder to find employment when they graduate than their non-disabled counterparts Some disabled students find it more difficult to gain work experience than their non-disabled counterparts 76% of students do not wish to disclose their disability to an employer Disabled students believe their disability will be seen as a ‘weakness’ by an employer Disabled students see their own disability as a ‘weakness’ Don’t realise what is possible; lack of aspiration Lack of encouragement: parents / teachers / professors Don’t develop skills / abilities / confidence that employers demand Not open with employers / don’t know how to position their disability Don’t ask for adjustments  can’t show their potential

Employment challenges

Employment: preparing disabled students for success What unique questions / challenges / barriers do disabled students face when searching for jobs and navigating the recruitment process? Lacking confidence Judgements / assumptions / perceptions See themselves as ‘weaker’ candidate Requesting adjustments / support Should I be open about my disability? Is there anyone else who has a disability / will I fit in? Discrimination Managing their disability in the workplace Causing a fuss / hassle Do not want to appear ‘different’ in front of other candidates

Employment: preparing disabled students for success What do you currently do to help your students to overcome these? What could do you do going forward? Lacking confidence Judgements / assumptions / perceptions See themselves as ‘weaker’ candidate Requesting adjustments / support Should I be open about my disability? Is there anyone else who has a disability / will I fit in? Discrimination Managing their disability in the workplace Causing a fuss / hassle Do not want to appear ‘different’ in front of other candidates

Employment: preparing disabled students for success What our students need to do: Get fully involved in university life: Clubs and societies Taking on positions of responsibility Voluntary work Gain work experience / internships / placements Be confident and able to position their disability positively Prepare an ‘openness statement’

Employment: preparing for success

Your openness statement myplusstudentsclub.com

Work out what you want to tell an employer, and why: 1 This is my disability / condition 2 This is the implication for the recruitment process 3 As a consequence, this is what I require

Wheelchair user: Anxiety disorder: Dyslexia/ Dyspraxia: I am a wheelchair users Condition: Unable to walk and use a wheelchair at all times Implication: Require access, a toilet and a parking space Requirements: Anxiety disorder: I have an anxiety disorder Very nervous and anxious particularly in new situations Useful for me to have an orientation visit prior to my interview, a schedule of the day’s events and for people to be aware that I may be more anxious than others Dyslexia/ Dyspraxia: I have dyslexia and dyspraxia I have weak short- term memory and I am unable to write comprehensive notes while I am listening To have handouts in advance and be able to record conversations, I will also require additional time

Writing your openness statement Task 1 Choose a few words for each of the following: Your disability/condition The implication What you need Task 2 Turn those words into a short, succinct ‘openness’ statement Task 3 Let’s practice. Practice until you love it!

Resources

Resources for students Free downloads available at www.myplusstudentsclub.com include: Ebook Series 1: Openness/Disclosure Ebook Series 2: CVs, Application Forms and Disability Ebook Series 3: Adjustments Ebook Series 4: Identifying Strengths

Resources for students Templates available at www.myplusstudentsclub.com/resources include:

Disability specific careers events

Resources for University Staff: Toolkit: Provide specialist careers advice for your disabled students Training events

helen@myplusconsulting. com Emma@myplusconsulting. com