UCL200 prize winners share their insights: The future of SEND at work

The competition invited students to work in cross disciplinary teams to present their ideas about the future of work and employability. Students were asked to think about UCL’s contribution to their chosen topic and imagine what part the university will play in the future. Team Futuristas focused their research on the future of SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) in the workplace and won the second prize in the competition!

Tell us about your project – what did you have in mind and what did you do?

We looked at employment of people with SEND, and we started by exploring how SEND has been understood over time. We found that it had shifted from a medical and exclusionary view to a more human-rights based approach that recognises the ongoing systemic barriers people with SEND face to this day.

We used a mix of methods, including reviewing existing research and policies, and carrying out semi-structured consultations with key stakeholders and people with lived experience. We looked at the social, legal and technological factors that have shaped and influenced SEND employment.

Our conclusion was that SEND employment still lags today, despite increased awareness of the barriers those with SEND face. While it is improving, the change hasn’t been transformative. We provided recommendations to UCL Careers and looked ahead to what SEND employment might look like in 2226, including the new challenges that could arise.

What drew you to applying for this competition in the first place?

Annie Wu, BSc Economics: I’m interested in the multidisciplinary application, and the idea of SEND employment being inclusive and impactful.

Nilabja Das, MA Education, Gender and International Development: I was particularly drawn to this competition because it offered the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group, with insights from different sectors to produce nuanced, impactful work.

Fizah Saddique, MA Education, Gender and International Development: I wanted to gain practical research experience, and using historical data to predict the future intrigued me. Being neurodivergent myself, the development of SEND in the workplace is also important to me on a personal level.

Safiyya Hasan, MSc Human Computer Interaction: I was interested in taking part in a research project exploring how accessibility has improved over time.

Nuzzat Chowdhury, MA Education: I’m interested in researching the improvements in accessibility in the workplace across time, with a view to contributing to a more inclusive future.

What was the key thing you learned from participating?

Annie: Consulting with people from diverse backgrounds, with varied lived experiences was so interesting and meaningful. It was fascinating to hear different perspectives about the technological impact on SEND. I have also become more aware of special education and employment in the UK as well as in my home country. On the data side, I have researched a range of literature and statistics, and organising this information has helped me develop my skills further.

Nilabja: My key learning was around the importance of centring the voices of those most affected in decision-making. Inclusion cannot be tokenistic or peripheral; it must be foundational. I also realised that technology alone cannot ensure inclusivity; we must question taken-for-granted norms and recognise diverse lived experiences. This project was personally transformative for me as a neurodivergent person, making inclusion of people with SEND not just an academic interest but a deeply personal commitment and a form of activism.

Fizah: My main learning takeaway was how legislation shapes social attitudes and how social attitudes influence legislation. Inclusivity is driven by legislation and technology, but social attitudes play an almost equal part as other factors. Moreover, talking to different people, I realised that accessibility should centre people with disabilities, it should be designed by and with people with disabilities, and that a person without a disability is less likely to determine the most effective solutions.

Safiyya: Taking part in this competition helped me become more aware of how different perspectives and ways of thinking come together in a group, and how important it is to make sense of that collectively. I found myself thinking more about how people interpret and engage with insights, and how to communicate insights in a way that actually resonates rather than just presents facts.

Nuzzat: This was the first time I conducted a primary research project and a qualitative study too. I also learnt about the difficulties of applications forms! Completing this competition with the best team I could ask for further taught me how far trust in your team can take you. Speculating about the future was something I had never done before, and I learnt how to use current and past data to do so.