Employability and Disability

1
Employability and Disability

• Kate Goddard
• Policy Officer
• Skill National Bureau for Students with
  Disabilities

2
Disability Discrimination Act (1995)

• 4.7 of students declare a disability
• 10 of 16-24 year olds are disabled
• 18 of working population are disabled
• Disabled people up to 7 times more likely to be
  unemployed than non-disabled people
• Disabled graduates no more likely to be
  unemployed than non-disabled graduates
• Disabled graduates more likely to be in clerical,
  manual or sales occupations

3
Disability Discrimination Act (1995)

• Part 1 Definition of Disability
• Part 2 Employment (incl. paid work experience)
• Part 3 Goods Services (incl. WBL)
• Part 4 Education (incl. placements)
• Part 5 Transport

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DDA Part 1Definition

• A person with a physical or mental impairment
  which has a
• substantial
• adverse and
• long term (lasting or expected to last for at
  least 12 months)
• effect on his or her ability to carry out
  normal day to day activities

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DDA Part 2Employment

• Applies to all areas of employment
• Recruitment (application, interview)
• Retention
• Job Description/Duties
• Training
• Dismissal

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DDA Part 2Employment

• Changes due in Oct. 2004
• Exemption of lt15 Employees lifted
• Vocational Work Experience
• Qualifications Bodies

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DDA Part 2Employment

• Work experience as part of a vocational training
  programme
• many degree courses eg Nursing, engineering.
• But not all work experience covered

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DDA Part 2Why work placements?

• Improve and strengthen skills and knowledge
• Develop interpersonal skills
• Learn employability skills
• Explore career options
• Gain practical experience
• Prove to employers
• Improve job opportunities

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DDA Part 4Education

• All publicly funded post-16 education
• Responsible body
• Student or person enquiring about admission or
  enrolment
• Admissions, provision of student services and
  exclusions
• Anticipatory duty no students ? no action

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DDA Part 4Student Services (contd.)

• information and communication technology and
  resources placement finding services
• careers advice and training, careers libraries
• job references
• job shops and employment finding services
• graduation and certificate ceremonies
• leisure, recreation, entertainment and sports
  facilities
• the physical environment
• car parking Cont.

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DDA (1995) What is discrimination?

• Treating someone less favourably than someone
  else for a reason related to his/her disability
  without justification
• Failing to make a reasonable adjustment

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DDA (1995)Justifications for less favourable
treatment

• The maintenance of academic standards (Part 4)
• Reasons that are material and substantial (Parts
  2 and 4)

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DDA (1995)Reasonable adjustments

• A responsible body or employer must take
  reasonable steps to ensure that disabled people
  or students are not placed at a substantial
  disadvantage in comparison to someone who is not
  disabled.

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DDA (1995)Issues affecting adjustments

• Knowledge
• Anticipation
• Confidentiality requests
• Length of placement

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DDA (1995)What adjustments might I have to
make?

• Part 4
• Examination and Assessment
• Placement policies and procedures for when things
  go wrong
• Alternative Placements
• Equipment
• Additional support
• Non-medical Helpers

• Part 2
• Premises
• Allocation of duties
• Working hours
• Training
• Equipment
• Non-medical Helpers

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DDA Part 4Reasonableness

• Factors to consider
• Maintenance of academic standards (part 4)
• Effectiveness (Part 2)
• Financial resources
• Grants/loans (Disabled Students Allowances)
• Cost and/or practicality
• Other aids or services available
• Health and safety requirements
• Relevant interests of other people including
  other students/employees

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Funding

• Disabled Students Allowances (DSA)
• Learning Skills Council
• Access to Work
• Institutions/Employers duties

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Disclosure

• FOR
• Explaining disability in a positive way
• Access to work
• Direct questions/Health and Safety
• Explaining CV
• AGAINST
• Disability does not affect application
• Fear of discrimination

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JRF ResearchHow disabled people manage in the
workplace

• Key strategies
• Being assertive
• Being open
• Using information and communications technology

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JRF ResearchHow disabled people manage in the
workplace

• Supporting disabled workers
• Moral and financial support
• Empathy
• Give and take
• Access to Work

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Improving employability

• Encourage work experience
• Links with recruiters
• Support during application process
• Promote understanding of disability and Access to
  Work
• Positive case studies
• All about attitudes

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Further information

• Employers' Forum on Disability
• Nutmeg House60 Gainsford StreetLondon, SE1
  2NYTel 020 7403 3020Fax [phone]
  0404Minicom 020 7403 0040

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DDA Part 4 Further information

• Codes of Practice
• DRC Helpline
• voice 08457 622 633
• text 08457 622644
• fax [phone]
• email enquiry_at_drc-gb.org
• website www.drc-gb.org

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Skill National Bureau for Students with
Disabilities

• Skill Information Service
• Monday-Thursday 1.30pm-4.30pm
• voice 0800 328 5050
• text 0800 068 2422
• fax [phone]
• email info_at_skill.org.uk
• Website www.skill.org.uk
• Chapter House, 18-20 Crucifix Lane, London
• SE1 3JW