Looking for work if you’re disabled
1. Looking for a job
When you're looking for work, look for the ‘positive about disabled people’ symbol (with 2 ticks) on adverts and application forms.
The symbol means the employer is committed to employing disabled people.
If a job advert displays the symbol, you'll be guaranteed an interview if you meet the basic conditions for the job.
Find out about jobs in your area at your local Jobcentre.
Disability Employment Advisers
A Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at your local Jobcentre can help you find a job or gain new skills and tell you about disability friendly employers in your area.
They can also refer you to a specialist work psychologist, if appropriate, or carry out an ‘employment assessment’, asking you about:
- your skills and experience
- what kind of roles you’re interested in
Ask to speak to a DEA at your local Jobcentre.
Programmes and grants
Your DEA can tell you about programmes and grants to help you back into work. These include:
- Work Choice - to help you find a job, and get support when you start work
- Residential Training - to give you work experience and training
- Access to Work - money towards a support worker or for the cost of equipment or travelling to work
2. Applying for a job
Questions about your health or disability
An employer isn’t normally allowed to ask you questions about your health or disability before they offer you a job.
They can only ask you about this for very limited reasons, for example to:
- make ‘reasonable adjustments’ - eg if you need a large print version of a test
- decide if you can do something that is an essential part of the job
If you’re treated unfairly when you apply for a job
Contact the Equality Advisory Support Service if you think you’ve been treated unfairly.
You may also be able to take a complaint to an employment tribunal - you have to do this within 3 months of the discrimination happening.