1. Unleashing ambition supporting disabled students to become job ready

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

3. What is ‘disability’?

4. 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.

5. 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 ….

6. 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

7. Employment challenges

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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’

11. Employment: preparing for success

12. Your openness statement
myplusstudentsclub.com

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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!

16. Resources

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

19. Resources for students
Templates available at include:

20. Disability specific careers events

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

22. helen@myplusconsulting. com Emma@myplusconsulting. com