Looking for a job
Look for the ‘Disability Confident’ symbol on adverts and application forms. This is awarded by Jobcentre Plus to employers who have committed to supporting disabled people. Disability Confident has replaced the Two Ticks scheme. If a job advert displays either symbol, you're guaranteed an interview if you meet the basic requirements for the role.
The Gov.uk website has advice on what support you can get from your local job centre, including information about Disability Employment Advisers, and programmes and grants such as Work Choice and Access to Work.
It also has guidance on what rights you have, as a disabled person, to protect you from discrimination in the workplace.
Access to Work
An Access to Work grant can pay for practical support such as adaptations to equipment, special equipment, fares to work if you can't use public transport, or a support worker or job coach.
- Find out more about Access to Work and who's eligible at Gov.uk
- Disability Rights UK has a useful factsheet about Access to Work
Travel
- If you have a disability, you may be eligible for free or subsidised travel around Scotland. Find out about the National Entitlement Card
Supported employment
If you have a disability, health problem or other barriers to work, you can get tailored help through the Supported Employment Framework for Scotland.
- The Scottish Union of Supported Employment has more information on supported employment
- The British Association for Supported Employment has information for Jobseekers along with advice on where you can find support from a member organisation
Care experienced?
If you're looking to grab opportunities, Community Jobs Scotland offer paid posts for 12 months to care experienced people aged between 16 - 29, offering a huge variety of vacancies in industries from warehousing to social media administration - and additional support for you, if it's required.
Scotland's Employer Recruitment Incentive (SERI) targets support at unemployed, care experienced young people, helping them obtain and remain in sustainable employment - including Modern Apprenticeships.
You're also entitled to additional support from us.
For school pupils, you'll get all the support you need. And it'll extend right the way up until you reach the age of 26 - helping you prepare yourself for leaving school, connect with training and find the right role for you.
But don't listen to us. Take it from Toni, one of our Modern Apprentices - who's also from a care experienced background, and found her placement through Who Cares Scotland?
Other places to get advice
- The Scottish Consortium for Learning Disabilities website has a section on employment, with resources, links and information
- Capability Scotland offers support and advice for disabled people looking for, or interested in, work. They also offer advice to people who are employed but concerned about the future
- The Shaw Trust is a national charity which supports disabled people to prepare for work, find jobs and stay in work
- Remploy offers support for disabled people and people with health conditions looking for work
- Values Into Action Scotland has information for people with learning difficulties and individuals on the autistic spectrum who are looking for work
- Momentum offers a range of employment support and training programmes
- In Control has a fact sheet with information about finding a job
- Iwork4me helps people who need additional support to become self-employed and has a particular focus on autism spectrum conditions
- Progress Scotland helps people find suitable and sustainable employment
- The Wise Group offer programmes to help people get into work
Help from SDS
Declaring a disability
There's no obligation on you to disclose a disability to your employer. But if you have a disability, you're protected under the Equality Act 2010. This means your employer can't treat you less favourably than other people for any reason connected to your disability. Your employer also has a duty to make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled people aren't seriously disadvantaged when doing their jobs. If they don't know about a disability you have, they might not be able to accomodate your needs in an interview or at work.
Confidentiality
If you choose to declare a disability, your HR file will be updated to include information about your condition. This information is covered by the Data Protection Act, which means it can't be passed on to any third party without your written consent.
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