Disability

Find out about UCL Careers and other organisations' opportunities that are available to disabled students.

If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition you can do the following:

Request an extended one to one appointment with a careers consultant
Request adjustments to enable you to access a one to one careers appointment (there is a choice of in-person or online via MS Teams)
Request reasonable adjustments for an event or workshop you will be attending (please email at least 48 hours in advance)
Receive careers information for students with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

View the accessibility of different teaching rooms and venues on the UCL campus on the AccessAble website.

Please email us on careers.disability@ucl.ac.uk to make any of these requests. You can also use the link below and log into myUCLCareers to join a mailing list for careers information that is particularly relevant for disabled students and those with long term health conditions (choose ‘update profile’ and tick the relevant box under ‘email preferences’).

Information for disabled students (including those with long-term health conditions)

Most UK graduate employers promote equal opportunities and diversity during their recruitment and selection processes, and in the workplace. They recognise that employees from different backgrounds bring unique knowledge, skills and experience to their businesses. In addition, there are laws in place to protect people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. For more information see the TARGETJobs article, ‘Discrimination in the recruitment process and workplace: a legal guide for graduates’, and the UK government’s Equality Act 2010: guidance.

Discussing disabilities or long-term health conditions with employers

We run regular workshops about this topic as part of our Career Essentials series and you can view a recording covering this topic here or download the slides here.

You may find the following guides helpful:

The list below outlines a variety of resources available to those with disabilities who are looking for work opportunities or advice.

Organisations providing advice and support

Action on Hearing Loss

Action on Hearing Loss is the UK’s national charity helping people who are confronting life-changing deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss. For information on support in the workplace look under on the ‘Support in the work place’ area of their website.
Action on Hearing Loss – Homepage

Arts Emergency

Arts Emergency helps young people from underrepresented backgrounds break into the arts and humanities through mentoring, guidance and building connections.
Arts Emergency - Homepage

Association of Disabled Professionals (ADP)

The ADP’s services include the provision of employment advice, information and peer support. The website provides information on how to set up your own business and refers to websites that provide help with finding work.
Association of Disabled Professionals – About

Blind in Business

Blind in Business supports blind and partially sighted students and graduates to find work through their Employment and Training Services.
Blind in Business – Graduates and undergraduates

The British Dyslexia Association

The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) is a national charity which provides information and support for people with dyslexia. Their resources provide information on dyslexia in the workplace and job hunting. The BDA also has a telephone helpline.
The British Dyslexia Association – In work

Changing Faces

Changing Faces is the UK’s leading charity for those with a visible difference: a mark, scar or condition that makes them look different. The website provides advice and guidance on how someone with a noticeable scar, mark or condition could handle a job application and interview.
Changing Faces – Guide for employees

City Disabilities

City Disabilities is an organisation for professionals in London who have disabilities or medical conditions that affect their working lives. Through this organisation, you can share your experiences or benefit from those of others through their mentoring schemes.
City Disabilities – Homepage

Disabled Entrepreneurs

Disabled Entrepreneurs support those who have a disability and are looking towards self-employment, in making strategic decisions to developing their capabilities. The website promotes their services, including ‘Professional Disabled Business Mentoring’, ‘Disabled Business Investment’ and ‘Motivational Disabled Business Speakers’.
Disabled Entrepreneurs – Homepage

Disability Rights UK

Disability Rights UK is a leading charity run by and for people with lived experience of disability or health conditions. The website provides work related information in the form of factsheets and guides through their ‘How we can help’ pages.
Disability Rights UK – How we can help

Diversity & Ability

Diversity and Ability champions neurodiversity and disability inclusion through technology, training and talent. They have developed the AXS Passport to help with requesting reasonable adjustments and they have also developed a tool to help you apply for Access to Work funding. Access to Work – Find Your Way.

Dyspraxia Foundation

The Dyspraxia Foundation is a charity which seeks to increase understanding of Dyspraxia. Includes advice on employment issues.
Dyspraxia Foundation – Dyspraxia in the workplace

Evenbreak

Evenbreak is an award-winning, triple A accessible job board, connecting disabled candidates with inclusive employers from a range of industries. You can register with Evenbreak to look for work opportunities and contact them for advice and resources.
Evenbreak – Resources for candidates

The United Kingdom Government

The Government's resource, ‘Looking for work if you're disabled’, contains a selection of information and links for those with a disability looking for work or in employment. This lists Government schemes and useful charities and non-governmental organisations.
The United Kindon Government: ‘Looking for work if you're disabled’

The Guardian

The Guardian’s have created the guide, ‘Securing work experience as a disabled candidate: our how-to guide’. Their website provides advice and guidance for looking for the right type of employer for you and identifying what support is available.
The Guardian – ‘Securing work experience as a disabled candidate: our how-to guide’

The Law Society

The Law Society provides guidance for disabled students on becoming a solicitor.

The Law Society – Becoming a solicitor as a disabled student

Mind

Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Using their resources, ‘Legal rights’, you can find information about what laws protect you from discrimination at work, what you can do if you are discriminated against, and where you can get support and advice. You can also find resources related to work and mental health at work.
Mind – Information and support

Patchwork Hub

Patchwork Hub is a disabled-led social enterprise that connects employers to skilled candidates who are seeking employment opportunities outside of the conventional 9 to 5 office-based job. You can sign up on their website to join the community and connect with work opportunities, training and support.
Patchwork Hub – homepage.

My Plus Students' Club

My Plus is a disability focused graduate careers website. They provide case studies, resources, advice and an employers’ directory.
My Plus Students' Club – Homepage

Muscular Dystrophy UK

Muscular Dystrophy UK offers a personal support system for people at their point of need, with a specialist helpline and free information. They can help with getting equipment, services and financial assistance.
Muscylar Dystrophy UK – Care and support

Narcolepsy UK

Narcolepsy UK is a charity that aims to provide relief and aid to those persons suffering from narcolepsy. The website provides information and advice on dealing with narcolepsy at work.
Narcolepsy UK – Narcolepsy and work

Remploy

Remploy is one of the UK's leading providers of employment services and employment to people with disabilities and complex barriers to work. They provide a range of employment services to support disabled people into gaining and retaining sustainable employment. They also have a learning business which helps disabled people to develop transferable skills before entering the job market.
Remploy – Homepage

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

The RNIB is one of the UK's leading sight loss charities and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people. Their website provides information on their support services for finding and staying in work.
Royal National Institute of Blind People – Work and employment

Scope Employment Services

Scope Employment Services are a disability support organisation in England and Wales. They run programmes for disabled jobseekers in the South East and elsewhere in the UK.
Scope Employment Services – Advice and support

Trades Union Congress (TUC)

The TUC is a federation of unions campaigning for a fair deal at work and for social justice at home and abroad. They provide guidance on a range of disability and diversity issues in the workplace.
Trades Union Congress – Guide to disability

Diversity and Ability

Disability positive employers

Business Disability

Business Disability Forum is a not-for-profit membership organisation that makes it easier and more rewarding to do business with and employ disabled people. The website has a list of organisations and partners that are members of this organisation.
Business Disability website

EmployAbility

Career management resource for disabled students and graduates. Has a list of ‘Disability Inclusive Employers’.
EmployAbility website

Gov.uk – Disability Confident: employers that have signed up

A list of employers who have that have signed up to the Disability Confident scheme, and their status (committed, employer or leader).
Gov.uk – Disability Confident: employers that have signed up

Reach – Equal Approach

Reach is a unique digital platform which supports inclusive organisations to attract and build a diverse talent pool and recruit more inclusively. Has a list of inclusive organisations.
Reach – Equal Approach list of inclusive organisations.

Legal rights

Equality Advisory Service

Provides information about your legal rights as someone with a disability.
Equality Advisory Service – Advice and support

Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission provide information about your legal rights and gives individuals tips and guidance on work and their rights.
Equality and Human Rights Commission – Advice and guidance

Mind

Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Under their resources on ‘Legal rights’, there provide information about what laws protect you from discrimination at work, what you can do if you are discriminated against, and where you can get support and advice. You can also find information on the ‘Workplace’.
Mind – Homepage

Neurodiversity and Autism

AS Mentoring

AS Mentoring supports autistic and other neurodivergent people to find and retain employment. They work with a wide range of neurodivergent adults, employers, organisations and charities, and use a strengths-based holistic approach rooted in ongoing 1:1 support relationships. Their services also include peer-support groups and online workshops.

Their online 'Looking For Work' pre-employment programme for autistic and neurodivergent graduates runs all year round and combines a series of group workshops and 1:1 support meetings. There is a charge for the programme, but there is an application route for external funding for autistic job seekers who cannot afford to pay for their own place. Find out more about ASM's services and the 'Looking For Work' programme.

Aspierations

Aspierations work with employers to raise awareness and support specific situations to improve understanding of those with Aspergers and high functioning autism amongst recruiters, colleagues and managers. They work with candidates to place them in organisations that are deemed ‘Asperger Fit 'n' Friendly’. Use the ‘Enquiry Form’ form on the web page to receive more information.
Aspierations – How we help

Autistica

Autistica is the UK's leading autism research charity. They upload useful resources, reports and case studies to their website. One report from looked at a work placement scheme in the UK for eight autistic graduates at the London offices of Deutsche Bank. The report focuses on understanding the experiences the graduates had during their internship and it suggests ways in which employers can make their organisations more autistic friendly.
Autistica – An Internship Programme for Autistic Graduates at Deutsche Bank

An example case study provides an account of an autistic graduate who went on to become full-time employee.
Autistica – ‘Daniel, from autistic graduate to employee’

Exceptional Individuals

Exceptional Individuals provides neurodiversity consulting, recruitment and employment support to employers and individuals with dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism. Exceptional Individuals – how we can help.

National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society provides a variety of work programmes, training and resources to cater for autistic jobseekers and employers looking to benefit from hiring a more diverse workforce. Their website is also a reliable source of information about autism which can be very helpful.

Incluzy

This is a disability-focused jobs board with an emphasis on neurodiversity.
Incluzy – Jobs board

Job listings

Reach – Equal Approach

Reach is a digital platform which supports inclusive organisations to attract and build a diverse talent pool and recruit more inclusively. Candidates can search for opportunities using the their Job Search tool.
Reach – About Reach

Evenbreak

Evenbreak, is a not-for-profit social enterprise with the aim of helping inclusive employers attract more talented disabled people and enable disabled jobseekers to find work with employers who will value their skills. The website has a jobs board advertising roles from different organisations, for disabled job seekers.
Evenbreak – Jobs

Patchwork Hub

Patchwork Hub is a disabled-led tech startup and employment platform that connects employers to skilled candidates who are seeking employment opportunities outside of the conventional 9 to 5 office-based job. Candidates can sign up to the website to look for work opportunities and join a growing global community of skilled professionals searching for accessible employment.
Patchwork hub – homepage.

Internships, work experience and graduate schemes

BBC – Extend

Extend is the BBC’s talent disability recruitment portal.
BBC – Extend

Blind in Business

Blind in Business supports blind and partially sighted students and graduates to find work through their employment and training Services.
Blind in Business – Graduates and undergraduates

The Civil Service

The Civil Service Summer Internships Programme encourages applications from disabled candidates although this isn’t made clear on their website. Civil Service Summer Internship Programme

Change100

Change100 brings together the UK’s top employers and talented disabled students and graduates to offer three months of paid work experience.
Change100 – Internships for students and graduates

EmployAbility

Career management resource for disabled students and graduates. The run a range of internships and graduate programmes for large international and UK employers. A list of these programmes and opportunities are listed on their website.
EmployAbility – Internships, Graduate Roles and Scholarships

Mencap

Mencap’s employment services support people with a learning disability to develop the skills and confidence needed to get a job. They offer three programmes which help to achieve this goal: supported internships, traineeships and apprenticeships. There is also information about the employers they work with.
Mencap – Employment services

Finding work opportunities through UCL

Through myUCLCareers, thousands of organisations advertise their opportunites to UCL students and graduates. This includes a range of vacancy types such as work experience, internships and full time graduate jobs.

You can log in to your myUCLCareers account to search for current vacancies.

Through myUCLCareers you can use find recruiters and filter by their ‘Occupational area’ by using the organisation's directory.

Funding

Access to Work

Access to Work provides funding if your health or disability affects the way you do your job. It gives you and your employer advice and support with extra costs which may arise because of your needs. It might pay towards the equipment you need at work, adapting premises to meet your needs, or a support worker. It can also pay towards the cost of getting to work if you cannot use public transport.
Access to Work – Get help at work

Diversity and Ability have developed a tool to help you apply for Access to Work funding. Access to Work – Find Your Way.

Action on Hearing Loss

Action on hearing loss is the UK’s national charity helping people who are confronting life-changing deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss.
Action on Hearing Loss – Benefits and grants

Prospects

Prospects are experts in graduate careers and also provide resources on disability-related funding.
Prospects – Disabled students allowances

Disability Rights UK

The fact sheet from Disability Rights UK provides guidance for disabled students on applying for postgraduate study and securing funding, as well as what support is available while studying.
Disability Rights UK – Postgraduate education for disabled students

Snowdon Trust

Snowdon Trust offers grants to students with a physical or sensory disability for help with additional disability-related costs. This does not usually include tuition or accommodation. Applications open in February for the forthcoming academic year.
Snowdon Trust – Homepage

UCL Careers Fairs

We want to make sure that you have every opportunity to attend events run by UCL Careers. That's why we have a quiet half-hour, before the advertised start time, should disabled students wish to visit the fairs before they get very busy.

Please email careers.disability@ucl.ac.uk if you would like to visit the fairs in the quiet half-hour, before the advertised start time.

Careers Extra

If you are a UK undergraduate student (home fee status) and are disabled and/or have a long-term health condition you can also join our UCL Careers Extra programme. Find out more about Careers Extra offers here. This includes access to bursaries to help cover the cost of undertaking internships, preferential booking for some UCL Careers events and extra careers events that are just for students signed up to UCL Careers Extra.

Blogs

Disability support at UCL

We encourage you to make full use of the support UCL provides for disabled students (including those with long-term health conditions). Find out more about disability support at UCL.