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What reasonable adjustments can be made to employees with mental health issues?

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ADHD in the Workplace: How to Ask for Reasonable Adjustments

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Written by Jemma Smith, EditorProspects · September 2023

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Search for internships on the site and discover everything you need to know including, why you should do one, how long they last, if you’ll be paid and how to apply.

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Points of Discussion on this page include:

1. Disclosing disability to an employer

2. Reasonable Adjustments

3.  Mentioning your disability in your application

4. Talking about disability at a job intervie

5. Talking to your employer about disability

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Disclosing disability at work | Disability charity Scope UK

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You can disclose disability to your employer at any point. This could be because your condition or something at work has changed.

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RNI:D - Supporting People who are dead, hearing loss or tinnitus

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RNI:D - Supporting People who are dead, hearing loss or tinnitus

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If you are unsure of what kind of workplace adjustments for deaf people and people with hearing loss  can be put into place, why not check out this article from RNI:D who share some valuable information.

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Making adjustments to someone's working environment is the right thing to do. It will mean your employee can better do their job to the best of their ability.

As an employer, you have some legal obligations around supporting your employees with hearing loss. Under the Equality Act 2010 (or the Disability Discrimination Act in Northern Ireland), employers are required to make 'reasonable adjustments' for people who are disabled because of hearing loss. Don't fear the price tag of providing this vital support - many adjustments will be simple and free or inexpensive to implement, such as improving the working environment, offering flexible working hours or providing assistive products.

The government's Access to Work scheme is designed to help organisations cover the cost of more expensive workplace adjustments such as the provision of communication support. Remember, everyone is different and so the adjustments required will vary.

To be able to give the best tailored support, we recommend offering the employee the option of a workplace assessment, which outlines the changes that employers can make to remove barriers for staff with hearing loss.

Workplace assessments are usually provided by the government scheme Access to Work. They're also available from specialist providers, including RNID. Find out about our workplace assessments

Tips for improving the working environment

To improve the acoustics in an office: use soft furnishings such as carpets, install acoustic panels, and fit rubber caps on chair and table legs.

Position an employee with hearing loss in a work area that has good acoustics and where they can see the rest of the room.

Adjust the layout of a meeting room and use good lighting to help everybody see each other clearly, which is important for lipreading.

If you play music in your workplace, either turn this off or down.

If your employee uses a communication professional such as a sign language interpreter, factor in the need to seat an additional professional, and ensure that they are in a well-lit area.

Flexible working

People who are deaf or have hearing loss may need to work somewhere quieter and, if they need to, take time during the day to attend an audiology or cochlear implant appointment.

Assistive products and technology

There's a wide range of products and technology that can help to remove barriers in the workplace for people who are deaf or have hearing loss - from amplified telephones to the Roger Pen, which is a conversation listener that can facilitate communication in meetings. Also consider a hearing loop for your meeting room to help hearing aid users understand speech over background noise.

You can buy assistive products and technology from Connevans, one of the leading suppliers of hearing related assistive technology, through their online shop. We are working in partnership with Connevans to make sure you can buy all the equipment your employees may need.

Browse the Connevans online shop.

It's also worth considering that assistive technology doesn't have to be an extra or specialised piece of equipment. Lots of everyday technology, such as smartphones and routine pieces of software, has built-in features that can enhance accessibility for people with hearing loss.

"Recently, a colleague who works in a specialist role felt he was struggling to keep up with conversation in group meetings, as well as using the telephone. We don't want to lose his skills and talent and so we have made adaptations, with support from Access to Work, which enable him to carry out his job. He now has a Roger Pen, a wireless microphone, which enhances speech, to use in meetings, and an amplified telephone. Without these adaptations, he wouldn't be able to continue in his role and we would lose a highly skilled employee"
Beverley Dwyer, Employee Relations Officer, Western Power Distribution

Communication support

People who are deaf or have hearing loss will require different communication professionals depending upon their needs and the situation:

sign language interpreters are trained to interpret spoken English into sign language and vice versa

lipspeakers convey the spoken word using clear lip shapes, facial expressions and natural gestures to clarify what is being said

electronic notetakers type a summary of the spoken word onto a laptop using specialist software

speech-to-text reporters capture a word-for-word record of what's said by using a specialised phonetic keyboard to a computer; this can then be linked to one computer, or a public screen if there are several users who are deaf or have hearing loss.

Please note: If you're booking a sign language interpreter, to ensure quality, you must book a professional who is registered with either the National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPD) or the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (SASLI) in Scotland.
Find out more about communication support and how to book with RNID

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Workplace adjustments for deaf people and people with hearing loss

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Making adjustments to someone's working environment is the right thing to do. It will mean your employee can better do their job to the best of their ability. As an employer, you have some legal obligations around supporting your employees with hearing loss.

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Support 4 Employment provides information, advice and guidance on all aspect of job seeking to blind or partially sighted people. This can be either face to face, remotely over the telephone or in online group settings.

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The aim of the scheme is to improve the employability of our students using industry mentors.

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What is it?

The aim of the scheme is to improve the employability of our students using industry mentors.
Students meet with their mentor to discuss and learn about the opportunities, demands and cultures of the working
world. It's all about giving students an insight into potential career paths and helping them to fulfil their aspirations
for employment.

Who is it for?

All current DMU students can apply to experience Employability Mentoring with industry professionals. This includes
undergraduates, post graduates, home and international, across all faculties, across all years, campus based and
distance learner.

We recruit mentors from a range of industries, with preference given to DMU alumni. Ultimately, we look for
mentors who can share their experience, and pass on essential information to give students a competitive edge
when it comes to the world of work.

How it works?

When a student joins the scheme they will undertake a four stage process. First we help students reflect, identify
and understand their current position in regards to their own employability. Next we ask students to identify the sort
of professional they aim to become in the future (the position they plan to move to). We then explore the potential
pathways and issues, with input from a variety of professionals, drawing on their actual real world experiences.
Finally we encourage and support students to act upon what they have heard and experienced in order to think,
speak and act differently, ultimately improving their employability.

Take a look at the following video to find out more about how the scheme works to initiate and maintain successful mentoring relationships.

What students say?

'Not only has Employability Mentoring provided me with reassurance about graduating and increased my confidence
about entering the world of work, it has also changed my outlook on employability. Employability Mentoring helped
me to understand that employability is a skill, and like all skills, through practice and reflection they can be improved -
even long before entering the interview room. I believe that learning from the experiences of a mentor has helped to
stack the odds in my favour when gaining employment, and has provided me with the 'toolbox' necessary for identifying
and improving employability skills.' Stephen Angell

Contact us

If you have any questions or need any additional information please contact:

Andy Morris, Employability Mentoring Manager, andy.morris@dmu.ac.uk

or check out the website www.dmu.ac.uk/employabilitymentoring

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The aim of the scheme is to improve the employability of our students using industry mentors. Students meet with their mentor to discuss and learn about the opportunities, demands and cultures of the working world. It's all about giving students an insight into potential career paths and helping them to fulfil their aspirations for employment.

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Overview

Access to Work is a publicly funded employment support programme that aims to help more disabled people start or stay in work. It can provide practical and financial support if you have a disability or physical or mental health condition.

An Access to Work grant can pay for practical support to help you:

start working

stay in work

move into self-employment or start a business

The grant is not for business start-up costs.

How much you get depends on your circumstances. The money does not have to be paid back and will not affect your other benefits.

Your employer may also be responsible for some of the costs of your claim. Access to Work can also give practical advice and guidance to employers, to help them understand physical and mental ill health and how they can support employees.

The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not covered by Access to Work and there is a different service in Northern Ireland.

How can it help me?

Access to Work can help pay for support you may need because of your disability or health condition, for example:

aid and equipment in your workplace

adapting equipment to make it easier for you to use

money towards any extra travel costs to and from work if you can't use available public transport, or if you need help to adapt your vehicle

an interpreter or other support at a job interview if you have difficulty communicating

other practical help at work, such as a job coach or a note taker or lip speaker

You may need to give us some proof of costs, for example for taxi fares.

If you have a mental health condition, you will be offered assistance to develop a support plan. This may include steps to support you going in to, remaining in or returning to work and suggestions for reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

Examples of assistance to develop a support plan:

flexible working patterns to accommodate changes in mood and impact of medication

providing a mentor to give you additional support at work

giving you additional time to complete certain tasks

providing you with additional training

regular meetings between you and your manager to talk about your concerns

a phased return to work, such as reduced hours or fewer days

Access to Work can be used for flexible working arrangements, such as hybrid working. This could include:

support to work from more than one location

support for working at home for all or part of your time

Access to Work partners will also work with your employer to advise them how best they can support you in the workplace.

Eligibility

You can apply for Access to Work if you:

are normally resident in, and working in, Great Britain

have a disability or health condition that means you need an aid, adaptation or financial or human support to do your job

have a mental health condition and need support in work

are aged 16 or over

You must also:

already be doing paid work

be about to start work or become self-employed

have an interview for a job

be about to begin a work trial or start work experience under the Youth Contract arranged through Jobcentre Plus

You may also get it if you are getting New Enterprise Allowance.

If you're a civil servant, your employer will provide support instead of Access to Work. Contact them directly to arrange this.

Your condition

To receive support from Access to Work you must have a disability or health condition that means you need an aid, adaptation or financial or human support to do a job. For example, special computer equipment or travel costs because you can't use public transport.

Your mental health condition must affect your ability to do a job. It must also mean you need support to:

start a new job

reduce absence from work

stay in work

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a single benefit paid to those in or out of employment. If you are claiming Universal Credit and have a disability or health condition, you will be able to apply for Access to Work for any paid work you do.

Exceptions

You might not get Access to Work if you get any of these benefits:

Incapacity Benefit

Employment and Support Allowance

Severe Disablement Allowance

Income Support

National Insurance credits

However, you may get it for a limited time if you are doing certain types of 'permitted work' to help you move off benefits completely.

Changing jobs

If you change employers, you may be able to transfer equipment to your new employer. You cannot automatically transfer awards for support workers or travel. You would need to contact the Access to Work team to discuss your new arrangements.

Working out of the country

If your job is normally based in Great Britain, but you are asked to travel out of the country as part of your duties, Access to Work support would be provided but may be limited.

European Union (EU) and outside the European Union

When your company is based in an EU country and you are sent to Great Britain to work, you can apply for Access to Work support.

If you are from a country not part of the EU, you need a visa to live and work here, which you will need to show if you apply for Access to Work.

A work permit or a leave to remain status also means you can apply for Access to Work support.

Supported internships and traineeships

Young people who start a work placement with an employer as part of the Department for Education supported internship programme or a Department for Business and Trade traineeship can apply for Access to Work support for the time of their work placement only.

Access to Work will fund additional travel, job coach and other support, including costs of equipment if appropriate, and promote the smooth transition into paid employment.

No other types of unpaid internships or traineeships will qualify for Access to Work support.

Paid work (employment)

For Access to Work purposes, employment means:

full or part-time paid work, whether permanent, casual or temporary

a work trial arranged by Jobcentre Plus

work in an unsupported or supported environment

not volunteering

some councillor and other elected official positions

not training, except for training related to your current paid job and being done while you are in receipt of normal wages

To be eligible for support if you are employed, you must have a contract of employment and be paid at least the National Minimum Wage.

You can also apply if you have:

a job offer letter

a job start date

a letter confirming your interview

Access to Work can help provide you with someone to help at a job interview. If you are registered with an agency, you must have a job to start before you can be eligible for support.

Civil Service and government agency employees

If you are employed by ministerial government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions or one of its agencies, your department will pay for your support.

Members of the clergy

If you are a member of the clergy, no matter what religious denomination, you must be in paid employment. For example, Church of England clergy receive a salary or stipend while some other religious denominations work in a different way.

Self-employment

For Access to Work purposes, self-employment is:

operating a business either on your own account or in partnership, or working for an employer on a self-employed basis

operating a franchised business on a self-employed basis

possessing a Unique Tax Reference (UTR) number

You can apply for Access to Work support if you are over retirement age (and now do not have to pay National Insurance) but you will need to have accounts for established businesses or a business plan of a standard acceptable to a bank or other financial institution, for example for new businesses.

In the case of self-employed applicants such as entertainers who do not necessarily see themselves as being a business, then a UTR and CV would be appropriate. This will help your case manager in determining whether the business is, or is likely to become, a viable business and therefore eligible for Access to Work support.

Access to Work cannot pay for the costs of setting up a business or cover costs while the business is being formed, this includes, but is not limited to:

standard items of equipment

support for fact-finding

attending courses, seminars or similar events

Company directors

If you are a company director, you can apply to get Access to Work support. However, you must prove that your company is registered with Companies House in Cardiff.

What you will get

There is no set amount for an Access to Work grant. How much you get depends on your specific case. The grant will only cover the support needed to let you stay in work or self-employed.

The money can pay for things like:

changes to the equipment you use

special equipment

fares to work if you cannot use public transport

a support worker or job coach to help you in your workplace

a support service if you have a mental health condition and you are absent from work or finding it difficult to work

disability awareness training for your colleagues

someone to help you at a job interview

the cost of moving your equipment if you change location or job

Maximum amount of grants

Access to Work grants awarded on or after 1 October 2015 are capped. The amount of the cap depends on when your grant was awarded or last reviewed.

Currently Access to Work grants awarded before 1 October 2015 are not capped. They will be capped from 1 April 2018.

How to claim

You can also apply by calling the Access to Work helpline:

Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 7479

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service

British Sign Language ( BSL) video relay service if you're on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Further information

You will be asked what help and support you need when you apply. Access to Work will also contact your employer for more information.

When you contact the Access to Work team, you may need:

your National Insurance number

your workplace address, including your postcode

the name, email address and work phone number of a workplace contact, for example your manager

your UTR number (if you are self-employed)

the name of your New Enterprise Allowance mentor (if you have one)

How we can communicate with you

If you find it hard to read our letters, complete our forms or use a phone we have many different ways we can communicate with you.

If you would like us to communicate with you by braille, British Sign Language, a hearing loop, translations, large print, audio, email or something else please contact us.

You can contact us Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm by:

Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 7479

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
Or write to us at:

Find more information about getting help with benefits and pensions if you have accessibility needs.

Reconsideration, review and complaints procedure

What if I do not agree with the level of my award?

Access to Work is decided on a case to case level and the amount awarded is based on discussions with you and with your employer. This means that it is not possible to appeal against the level of an award.

However, the Access to Work scheme does have a reconsideration policy.

Everybody is entitled to one reconsideration of an award by a different Access to Work case manager. Please use the contact details at the top of your award letter if you want to arrange this.

What if things change?

If you have had a change of employer or your job role has changed, you can ask for your award to be reviewed. This can take place as many times as your situation changes, and you will still be able to get your award looked at again if you do not agree with the level of your reviewed award.

How do I complain?

Not agreeing with the level of your award and the results of reconsideration does not, on its own, give reasons for a complaint. However, if you have had poor customer service or you think your Access to Work claim has not been handled correctly, you can complain using our complaints procedure.

If your support needs change

If the support you need changes, for example because you have started to work from home, you need to tell Access to Work.

To report a change, contact the Access to Work helpline.

An Access to Work case manager will discuss working from home with you and your employer to understand what support is needed. If they cannot identify the support you need, they will put you in touch with a workplace assessor. They will work with you and your employer to recommend how to overcome the barriers you face.

If you have started to work from home, but your support needs are the same, you do not need to report this.

You need to report any changes to your circumstances because they may affect the amount of your award.

If you need extra support but have reached or have nearly reached the maximum amount of your award, speak to your Access to Work case manager. You can continue to get a grant of up to £66,000 a year. If you have not yet spent all the award, your case manager can work with you to agree how to spend the rest of the money.

Assessments

After you apply for Access to Work, an case manager will contact you to discuss what help you could get. You may need an assessment of your workplace to assess your needs.

If you know what support you need, you do not need to have an assessment. An Access to Work case manager will discuss the award with you and develop a tailored package of support.

If you need to have an assessment, it will be carried out by telephone, an online video call or in person within the workplace.

If you cannot use the telephone or video call, contact the organisation that is arranging the assessment to agree another way to have the assessment. This could be through an online British Sign Language ( BSL) interpreting service or an online video service.

If you need to rearrange or cancel an assessment, contact the organisation that has arranged the assessment with you.

Support workers

You can continue to use your existing support worker while working from home.

If you need to cancel a support worker at short notice and are charged a fee, you may be able to claim that money.

Interpreters

If you use a BSL interpreter and they cannot visit your home, Access to Work could help pay for an online BSL interpreting service.

You need to tell Access to Work if you change the type of support you are using. For example, if you start using an online interpreting service instead of a BSL support worker.

If your interpreter can provide interpreting services online, they can still be paid for this. Access to Work will not be able to pay for any travel time, if they are not travelling to support you.

If your support worker cannot support you at the moment

If your support worker cannot support you because they are sick, you may still be able to claim payment for them. Your Access to Work award will need to include payment for your support worker while they are off sick.

You cannot get help from Access to Work to pay for your support worker if they are sick but payment for their sickness is not included in your Access to Work award. They may be able to claim Statutory Sick Pay, Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit.

Travel costs

Access to Work can only pay towards travel costs needed because of your disability or health condition.

If you are no longer travelling to work, you should not claim for any travel support. You can start receiving support towards travel when you start travelling to work again.

Claiming for costs

You have 9 months to claim for costs.

If you cannot get your employer or your support worker to sign your claim for costs, you can ask them to send you an email instead. The email should confirm that the costs you are claiming are correct. You will need to print the email and send it to Access to Work with your claim.

If you cannot leave home or ask someone else to post your claim for costs, contact your Access to Work case manager and ask if you can send your claim by email. They will tell you what you need to do. You can also send the email from your employer or your support worker by email.

If you have a question about your payments, contact the Access to Work helpline. Someone will arrange to call you back within 7 days.

Renewals

Access to Work will contact you 12 weeks before your support is due to end. If you would like your support to continue, you will need to apply to renew it.

This factsheet gives general information only and is not a complete and authoritative statement of the law.

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Access to Work is a publicly funded employment support programme that aims to help more disabled people start or stay in work. It can provide practical and financial support if you have a disability or physical or mental health condition.

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Your guide to the Access to Work (AtW) process

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Skip to content This is your guide to the Access to Work (AtW) process. When you're first starting out it can all seem a bit daunting. D&A are here to help! This handy step-by-step guide will show you all the things you need to do to get up and running with your AtW support.

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Access to Work  - supporting more disabled people in to work

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Helping people get into the world of work...

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At Blind in Business we help people who are blind or have partial sight get into the world of work more easily. Our Training and Employment Services help you to identify your ambitions and achieve your goals. We offer help and support with finding work, the interview process, and obtaining the equipment you need to succeed. We also support employers in hiring and working with people with visual impairments.

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Getting blind and partially sighted people into work

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Blind in Business help people who are blind or have partial sight, into work. Our Graduate Training and Employment Services help you to achieve your ambitions.

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Our dedicated Postgraduate Alumni Scholarship provides De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) graduates with a tuition fee discount of 20 per cent. The discount is available on selected full-time, part-time and distance learning postgraduate taught courses running across multiple start dates in the 2022/23 academic session, with the next intake in September 2022.

The scholarship is available to all DMU UK, EU and international alumni who have completed an undergraduate degree at the university, and is just one many benefits about being part of DMU for Life. The scholarship is applicable to DMU students progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate taught study, or students progressing through our transnational education partners to postgraduate study in the UK.

Studying a postgraduate course at DMU allows you to go further in your knowledge and your career. You can become a specialist within your field, explore your subject area with leading researchers, gain accreditation or change career trajectory.

As well as enhancing your academic skillset you will also demonstrate valuable attributes to potential employers. The leading research that takes place at DMU ensures relevant and up-to-date course content, providing you with the skills and experience employers expect from candidates in a competitive job market.

Courses that are eligible for the discount, along with detailed terms and conditions, can be found on the following faculty pages:

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Our dedicated Postgraduate Alumni Scholarship provides De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) graduates with a tuition fee discount of 20 per cent. The discount is available on selected full-time, part-time and distance learning postgraduate taught courses running across multiple start dates in the 2022/23 academic session, with the next intake in September 2022.

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What is a DMU Alumni Network?

DMU Alumni Networks are an integral part of our global alumni community and are tailored for those with a shared personal or professional interest. They provide the means to engage with DMU alumni, staff, and other industry professionals to ensure continued professional development, promote networking opportunities, advance the university’s strategic objectives and enhance the student experience.

How do they work?

Our networks are formed of DMU alumni and key staff members who are connected through DMU’s Global Alumni Community Hub (GACH). Each network encourages members to share their own industry-specific news, developments, and events in a dedicated virtual group within the GACH. We also encourage individual connections between members and the continued expansion of these groups.

Alumni Networks allow you to share success stories, publicise industry developments, showcase job opportunities and meet like-minded professionals. DMU staff will also share research, events, and initiatives that you may be interested in supporting/attending.

What networks are available to me?

The following networks are now all available to join on the GACH:

Arts, Design and Humanities Network

Business and Law Network

Computing, Engineering and Media Network

Health & Life Sciences Network

Sports Network

Women’s Network

How do I join?

If you wish to join an upcoming network or start your own network, please contact Danielle Wright, Alumni Officer – danielle.wright@dmu.ac.uk.

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De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester, UK offers a whole range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses. View our courses, book a visit and more

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DMU for Life is committed to providing an outstanding alumni experience beyond the student years.

That is why we have established, and continue to establish, DMU Alumni Clubs around the globe.

Clubs enable alumni to maintain their connection to the University and to each other, wherever they go in the world.

We would love for you to join our global alumni community to network, socialise, support charitable projects, or simply to keep up to date with the latest news and events from DMU and your locality.

How do I join?

Our vision is to ensure that wherever life takes you, you'll always be able to find others who've shared the great experiences on offer at DMU. Help us make that aim a reality by joining an existing club or find out more about how we can support you to establish a new one.

The full list of current Clubs can be found below, each with their own unique story. Click on a link to find out more about what our individual Clubs look like.

If there isn't a club in your area, you can let us know about your interest in forming one by filling in this form.

For more information or further enquiries, contact Alumni Officer, Emma Heald.

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DMU for Life is committed to providing an outstanding alumni experience beyond the student years. That is why we have established, and continue to establish, DMU Alumni Clubs around the globe. Clubs enable alumni to maintain their connection to the University and to each other, wherever they go in the world.

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De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester, UK offers a whole range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses. View our courses, book a visit and more

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4 GREAT reasons to register as an Alumni...

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4 GREAT reasons to register as an Alumni...

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1. Better Together

2. Stay Informed

3. Promote & Collaborate

4. Re-connect

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Better together:
Support current DMU students and fellow graduates by sharing job opportunities, internships, career news and events within our university and alumni community.
The impact of COVID-19 has touched all of us, we recognise these are difficult times for everyone. Our resource library ena…

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Graduate Recruitment Bureau - sharing some great careers advice

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Graduate Recruitment Bureau - sharing some great careers advice

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The best graduate careers advice from the leading graduate recruitment specialists. Student and graduate careers advice, interview coaching, CV templates.

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Prospects share their 7 ways to improve graduate employability

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Prospects share their 7 ways to improve graduate employability

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PROSPECTS - offers so much valuable information about employment and your future career.

You can job search on their website including work experience placements, seek careers advice, they even have some interesting podcasts that you can listen to!

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/podcasts

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Thanks to COVID-19 and the safety measures put in place to keep everyone safe, opportunities for work experience have been thin on the ground. However, there's still a variety of ways you can improve your employability - all it takes is a bit of initiative

Over the course of the past year the coronavirus pandemic has caused employers to postpone or cancel work experience and internships. According to a Prospects survey, 26% of final year students lost out on an internship in 2020 because of COVID-19.

As a result of the pandemic, employers have had to find new, innovative ways for students and graduates to carry out work experience and an ever increasing number of employers now run virtual work experience schemes, enabling students and graduates to gain essential experience from home.

While nothing replaces real, on-the-job experience there are still a number of things you can do to boost your chances of employment.

Pick up a hobby

We've all got interests that we'd like to indulge 'if only we had the time' but with some lockdown measures in place it seems we'll all have more time than we thought during 2021.

Starting a hobby demonstrates initiative and a passion for learning. It'll also help you occupy that tricky 'hobbies and interests' section of a CV or application form.

Because of social distancing measures due to the pandemic, many group activities or contact sports are off the cards. However, there are still a variety of options for you to consider. For example, you could:

learn a coding language

start writing a novel

learn how to cook/bake

get outside and figure out how to plant and grow

take up an instrument

start a book club

teach yourself to a new skills such as painting, sewing, crafting

take up photography.

This Prospects webinar aired September 2021.

Take an online short course

There's no better way to improve your graduate employability than by embarking on a short course to improve your skills.

Short, online courses are available in a range of subjects, so if you want to learn how to use a certain piece of software, discover what's involved in a particular role or brush up on soft skills there will be a course for you.

The course doesn't have to be related to your career. Any course taken demonstrates to employers your initiative, drive and organisational skills.

Course providers include FutureLearn and Coursera and a number of universities run Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which are free to join.

If you'd like to commit to something longer term, an online Masters degree might suit you.

Learn more about online learning.

Start reading

To be as prepared as possible for the world of work, do some research into the industry and sector you want to join, paying particular attention to companies of interest. To find out what certain roles involve, see job profiles.

Despite the restrictions caused by coronavirus, many graduate employers are still recruiting so to keep up to date with preferred employers and to learn of vacancies follow them on social media.

It's also a good idea to do some interview prep. In-person interviews may still be possible, but with social distancing rules in place, many organisations are also relying on phone and video interviews - so make sure you know what to expect.

Improve your online presence

Take a look at your social channels and ask yourself if they're employer-friendly. Employers do look at a candidates social media channels to gauge whether they'd be a good fit for the job/company.

To tidy up your social channels:

Adjust your privacy settings. If you don't want recruiters to be able to see your profiles make sure they're set to private.

If profiles are public, delete any posts that could damage your chances of success - for example, wild holiday pictures or posts containing controversial comments or bad language.

Consider whether your profile handle looks/sounds professional. If not, change it.

To improve your presence:

Follow organisations and professional bodies of interest to keep up to date with the latest news and developments.

Like, comment and interact with employers and peers.

When posting, include relevant hashtags to ensure your posts are seen by the right people.

Think about setting up separate work accounts.

Also, if you're not on LinkedIn, you should be. Join and start building your profile now.

Learn more about social media and job hunting.

This webinar featured in the Prospects Future You: Live event in November 2020.

Sign up as a volunteer

Volunteering looks great on your CV and will give you excellent examples to use during job interviews. Activities don't have to be related to your career, you'll be surprised how many transferable skills you gain.

Again, because of social distancing, some community or group projects may be unavailable. To find out what you can do, search Do-it and Do-it from home. With travel restrictions in place, some volunteering abroad programmes will also be off limits - but did you know you can volunteer online or carry out solo tasks in your area?

You could become a telephone or virtual volunteer for a charity, or a check-in-and-chat volunteer for the NHS. Alternatively you could collect shopping or medicines for vulnerable people in you community.

Search for voluntary opportunities.

Learn a language

Having a second (or third) language under your belt can help you to stand out in a competitive jobs market. Business in all forms is increasingly international so mastering a well-used language such as Portuguese, Spanish, French or German will often give you an edge.

The hard work and dedication that learning a new language entails is bound to impress employers.

There are plenty of online and auditory resources available to help you to become bilingual, as well as a number of apps.

Craft the perfect CV

Don't neglect your CV. When the time comes to apply for jobs you'll wish you'd kept it up to date. If yours could do with a bit of TLC, now's the time to do it.

Spend time casting a critical eye over your CV. Does it contain unnecessary or inaccurate information? Is it formatted correctly? Does it include all your skill and experience? Could you personal statement do with a rewrite? Keep an extra eye out for errors or typos.

Discover how to write a CV and take a look at writing a personal statement for your CV as well as our example CVs for inspiration and guidance.

If you take up any of these employability-boosting activities, don't forget to add the skills and experiences to your CV.

For those who've graduated and are ready to find work, explore the Office for Students' (OfS) Graduate employment and skills guide (2021).

Find out more

Written by Jemma Smith, Editor

Prospects · May 2021

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7 ways to improve graduate employability

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Thanks to COVID-19 and the safety measures put in place to keep everyone safe, opportunities for work experience have been thin on the ground. However, there's still a variety of ways you can improve your employability - all it takes is a bit of initiative Over the course of the past year the coronavirus pandemic has caused employers to postpone or cancel work experience and internships.

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The Office for Students is a great place to gain an insight into what your next steps might look like once you graduate.

Here you will find some information about the following steps -

Step 1 - Identify Skills

Step 2 - Develop Skills

Step 3 - Gain Experience

Step 4 - Apply for Jobs

Step 5 - Wellbeing

At each step you will be signposted resources and opportunities to help you develop skills, gain experience and build networks in preparation for a graduate career.

You do not have to take the steps in order. You can focus on any one or more of the steps you find most helpful.

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This guide is for students who are about to graduate and are at the start of their career journey.

It has been produced with 2021 graduates in mind, but current students and recent graduates may also find it helpful.

It sets out five important steps to help you, as students about to graduate, think about your choices and what you'd like to do next:

At each step we signpost resources and opportunities to help you develop skills, gain experience and build networks in preparation for a graduate career.

You do not have to take the steps in order. You can focus on any one or more of the steps you find most helpful.

The guide has been developed by the Department for Education and the Office for Students, working with the higher education sector and graduate employers.

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This guide is for students who are about to graduate and are at the start of their career journey. It has been produced with 2021 graduates in mind, but current students and recent graduates may also find it helpful.

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50 Positive Affirmations That Will Change Your Life

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How to apply for Access to Work & Useful Contacts 

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How to apply for Access to Work & Useful Contacts 

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On here, you will find the online application, and helpful contact details for the Acess to Work team.

There are some helpful telephone numbers and accessible ways to get in touch.

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Stay at home

Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)

If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times

Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Do not meet others, even friends or family.

You can spread the virus even if you don't have symptoms.

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Get support in work if you have a disability or health condition (Access to Work)

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Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home) If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times Wash your hands as soon as you get home Do not meet others, even friends or family.

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The Equality Act 2010 requires an employer to make reasonable adjustments to enable a disabled person to work.

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The Equality Act 2010 requires an employer to make reasonable adjustments to enable a disabled person to work.

You can get reasonable adjustments if:

you are disabled

your condition changes

you become disabled

you are self-employed

You can ask for reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or once you've started work. Many reasonable adjustments cost little or nothing. But they can make a big difference.

Adjustments can change as your needs change. If there are reasonable adjustments which would allow you to carry on working or help you to overcome barriers, ask for them. If you're not sure what these might be, Access to Work grants can pay for specialist assessments and recommended adjustments.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments even before you have started a new job. Your employer can only offer reasonable adjustments if they know you are disabled.
Asking for adjustments when you have a job offer
Who is responsible for reasonable adjustments

Good employers will have effective procedures to meet the needs of disabled employees. But your employer may need help understanding your specific requirements. Asking for reasonable adjustments will enable you to do your job better. It will also help your employer by suggesting solutions to possible barriers and showing how to fund them.

Access to Work grants

Access to Work grants can help pay for adjustments at work and for specialist assessments. These are Government grants but it's your responsibility to apply for them.

If an employer knows about Access to Work and wants you to apply, this is a good sign. Some businesses prefer to pay for adjustments themselves. Some have their own disability specialists.

If your employer does not consider what kind of adjustments you need, or how Access to Work could pay for them, they could be discriminating against you.

If you are self-employed, how much financial support you get from Access to Work will depend on your individual case. You cannot use Access to Work to cover start-up costs for a new business.
Access to Work Disability discrimination at work
Examples of reasonable adjustments

Employers and employees need to communicate openly, because the needs of all employees are different. This is true, even if they have a similar impairment to another person. Ask Access to Work for an assessment and if they can fund some of these adjustments.

Physical adjustments

Physical adaptations can include:

adapted equipment, such as chairs, keyboards or voice recognition software

changes to the work environment, such as lowering desks, using natural daylight bulbs, modifying entrances

Display screen equipment (DSE) checklist (GOV.UK)
Changing working patterns and hours

Other workplace adjustments could include:

giving you different responsibilities, maybe even a different job

transferring some tasks to a colleague

flexible working

working from home

compressed hours

going part-time

If you are self-employed, it means you can choose your working hours. If you need flexible working hours or to work from home, have a conversation with any new client. Being open with clients from the start can help you get work that suits your needs. Not everyone will agree to your conditions. But being self-employed allows you to choose the jobs you want and reject those that create barriers for you.

Support and training

Access to Work could also provide:

a reader, interpreter or personal assistant

training and support for people you work with

Accessibility solutions (Action on Hearing Loss)
What is 'reasonable'?

For some jobs, simple changes are easy and can make a big difference. In some types of work, it's harder to make changes. For example, you can do some jobs from home.

There is no set definition of 'reasonable'. It's unique to each organisation, but your employer will have to think about:

Working out what's possible is what the law calls 'reasonable adjustments'. Take your time before making decisions or agreeing to anything.

Prepare for meetings

Keep copies of everything that you send to Access to Work and your employer. Make notes of your conversations, including:

You may wish to prepare notes so you have an idea of what you want to say. Bring these with you and explain what you are finding difficult at work and what you think might be the solution. If you already know what you need, ask for it. Otherwise you should be given an assessment to determine how your needs can be met.

At the meeting, aim to agree on a timetable of specific actions.

Reasonable adjustments are not favouritism

Providing disabled and non-disabled people with the same working conditions is not enough. Employers have to consider all requests that would give disabled people the tools they need to do their job. Employers must follow the law by providing reasonable adjustments.

If you ask for reasonable adjustments that your employer thinks could be 'favouritism', ask them why they feel that way. Help them to understand how the changes will make it easier for you to do your job well.

Reasonable adjustments if you become disabled

If you become disabled while in work, you have rights. Do not assume, or let other people assume, that your working life is over.

You can do things that will increase your chances of staying in work. Most of these involve talking about your condition with your employer. Good employers will help you to explore your options and support you.

Your condition is not what disables you; it's the way that society treats you. This is called the social model of disability.

You will not know what's possible unless you find out. You could:

continue to do your job

continue to do your job with adjustments to your environment or work pattern

do a different job for the same employer

stop working for your employer

The first step is to talk to your line manager or someone in HR about possible adjustments.

Asking for adjustments if you are returning to work

Your employer only has to provide reasonable adjustments if they are aware of your increased needs. Make sure you tell them when you need these. Keep a written record if you need to prove this.

If you have been off work due to your condition, your employer should deal with this as disability-related, rather than as sickness. If they do not, email them to say that this is disability-related. By doing this, there's a record of what you have told your employer. If you are not offered a meeting to review your adjustments, request this specifically.

Talking to your employer

Your employer's human resources (HR) policies and procedures might describe how they should be helping you. Even if the policies do not mention reasonable adjustments, they are still your legal right.

Other employers might be embarrassed or not know what to do. They will need you to take the lead. Approach your line manager or a member of the HR team to start the process.

Check your contract. Ask for HR policies and procedures, such as a sickness policy or guidance on employing disabled people. Share these with your manager.

It's best to start with small conversations. Even if you're stressed, be ready to make your case and listen to any concerns your employer may have. Your employer may be trying their best to help. Be reasonable, but expect your employer to be reasonable too. If they're not, that's the right time to become assertive.

If you do not get a response, make a formal request in writing and consider raising a grievance.
Talking to your employer about disability
Get support if you need it

Ask your employer if you can bring someone along to meetings. This could be a colleague, union representative, friend or family member. They should be responsible and reliable. They could be useful to help you understand information and to take notes. This is especially important if your employer is unsupportive.

If the meeting is a formal grievance hearing, you have a right to be accompanied by a colleague or trade union representative.

If you have to attend an employment tribunal, remember to take all the notes with you.
Employment tribunals (GOV.UK)
Occupational health assessments

You may have an occupational health assessment as part of the process of working out what adjustments you need. This is common.

Ask your employer for an assessor with experience of helping disabled people to overcome barriers to stay in work. This is called vocational rehabilitation. Not all occupational health assessors or therapists have experience in this area. You may need to search online or get a personal recommendation.
Search for an assessor (Vocational Rehabilitation Association)
Sharing medical information

You must share medical information if your occupational health assessor asks your GP. Do not ignore the request. You only need to share information that will help your employer to understand your needs at work. You do not need to include anything else. For example, if your needs are linked to mobility, you do not need to share anything about your mental health.

Template if your employer refuses adjustments

Dear [name of the person you are writing to],

Subject: Reasonable Adjustment Request

I am writing to ask for some changes to my work arrangements. I want to be able to do my job well and making these changes will support me to do that.

[Explain how your impairment or condition affects your work. Give the facts, be specific and clear.
Explain:

the adjustments you need at work before you can start working

future adjustments

how this would help you do your job better

if possible, explain how the employer can make these changes without disrupting the business. If you're not sure how this might affect the business, ask if you can talk about this.]

The Equality Act 2010 says that employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees when a person is at a substantial disadvantage compared with an employee who is not disabled.

Employers must take reasonable steps to address this. These can include:

changing policies, procedures and practices

changing the physical environment

providing extra aids and services

If it is reasonable for the employer to make a change, then it should be made.

I believe that as a disabled person, under the Equality Act 2010 I am entitled to the reasonable adjustments I have requested.

I would be happy to discuss this request in more detail, but I would like a written response within 14 days.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Reasonable adjustment request (Word download)
If your employer is not doing enough

Negotiating with your employer can be challenging. Being assertive will help you to get the employer to fulfil their responsibilities. But being aggressive might mean that they will not want to employ you.

You may want to challenge a decision if you think that their decision does not follow their own policies and procedures.

Your employer could be discriminating against you if they refuse a request for a reasonable adjustment. If they do this, you should get help and advice on what to do next.

If you're not sure what your rights are, you can get legal advice from your:

union, if you're a member

household insurance provider, if you have legal cover

Helplines can also provide information:

Regular reviews: are things working for you?

Your employer needs to check that you have what you need to do your job. There should be someone at your organisation responsible for this. Your manager or a member of HR will be able to tell you who this is.

You can ask for a review if:

your condition changes

adjustments are no longer working

you want to know what else is available

your role changes

If your adjustments are not working, raise your concerns immediately. This will affect your performance. Having the right adjustments allows you to do your job effectively. People in HR sometimes call this a 'capability issue'. Raise this within the organisation before resorting to unions or getting legal advice.

Remind your employer that they can renew adjustments through Access to Work every 3 years. This allows you to apply for upgrades in your support technology.

Last reviewed by Scope on:

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The Equality Act 2010 requires an employer to make reasonable adjustments to enable a disabled person to work. You can get reasonable adjustments if: you are disabled your condition changes you become disabled you are self-employed You can ask for reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process or once you've started work.

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Let your health or disability become the focus of the interview.

Assume that an employer will view you in a negative way.

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Be very positive about your skills and abilities. Don't allow room for doubts in the mind of the interviewer.

Try to anticipate the interviewer’s anxieties and address these.

Provide factual information that is related to your ability to do the job, but do not use complicated medical terminology. Remember, you know what your disability means and how it affects you, others may not.

Be prepared for the interviewer to ask you questions about your disability.

Be prepared to make suggestions about what adjustments you would need in order to carry out the duties of the job effectively.

Give positive examples of how you have met your challenges in the past.

Demonstrate that your disability has not limited your personal achievements, study or work performance.

Take along relevant literature about funding or sources of information an employer could follow up, if you feel this would be useful.

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There are several possible times to disclose your health or disability to a potential employer

Covering letter: You could mention your disability in the letter accompanying your CV. This should be done in a positive manner, making sure you highlight any particular achievements, such as successful past employment or voluntary work

Application: There may be a section on the form asking about any serious health conditions or disabilities. You will have to decide whether you want to disclose your disability at this stage.

Pre-interview: If you are invited for an interview and need practical support, you will need to contact the employer in advance to enable them to make suitable arrangements. This may be an opportunity to have a brief discussion around your disability.

Interview: It may be that you will not be able to conceal your disability at an interview. In any interview you need  to try and be relaxed and present yourself in a positive manner. This is particularly important if you feel the interviewer has little experience of your particular disability and is feeling anxious because of this. You may need to take the initiative in acknowledging this and introduce what you feel are the relevant issues in this context.

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You may feel that you will be discriminated against and rejected by employers with pre-set ideas about the effects of disability.

You may feel that you do not wish to discuss your disability with a stranger.

You may feel your disability has nothing to do with your ability to do the job.

You may feel that an employer will not view your application objectively and will focus on your disability rather than your abilities.

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Many employers are committed to employing people with disabilities.

Employment is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act. If you declare your disability and feel that you have been discriminated against during the application process, you can take your case to an Industrial Tribunal.

You can take the opportunity to describe your disability in a positive light and may be able to use it to provide evidence of the competencies employers seek, such as flexibility, creative problem solving and negotiation.

Many application forms ask direct questions about disability and health. If you give false information and an employer finds out, you could risk losing your job.

There are financial schemes available, like the ‘Access to Work Scheme’, that you can apply to for help with specialist equipment and additional transport costs if needed.

You may feel more comfortable knowing that you have been open about your disability to your employer.

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Leicester's creative hub05 JUNE : LCB DEPOT is closed TO THE PUBLIC until further noticeOur building is closed but our

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here

LCB Depot is CLOSED to the public for now

We will monitor emails to info@lcbdepot.co.uk and aim to respond to enquiries if possible.

To contact businesses based at LCB sites, find them at www.lcbdepot.co.uk/tenants

Our café-bar Grays stays CLOSED

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Our meeting rooms are not available for the public to hire

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We offer:

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our cafe-bar Grays : its Coffee Shop is open to the public Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm; its Kitchen opens 8.30am to 3pm; Grays also opens on many of our evening and weekend events

social and networking events such as our LastFriday street food nights; Easy Saturday family days; monthly Creative Coffee meetups; and engaging cultural/creative events with CAMEo , COTO and CREATE

creative residencies, exhibitions and related arts events in our gallery spaces including our Lightbox gallery

four meeting rooms for hire on weekdays 9am-5.30pm, seating up to 7, 14, 16 and 40 people, £10-£32 per hour/£80-£195 per day (+VAT)

hire of our ground floor spaces for evening and weekend events - talk to us if you have an idea for an event you think we could host for you

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This is a great way to get started with networking.
Your friends may also be networking and they may have come across people you may not have, and of course there could be many reasons for this, such as; different ways of networking, research applications, industry types, career paths etc.

Networking through friends can be as simple as introducing you to someone they are already familiar with and that will get the Ball Rolling itself - the rest is up to you!

Reach out to the contact via email or if the introduction is done in person - start a conversation, be yourself and find a common ground - relax and take it one step at a time.

If you see the person at an event or training then the best way to do this is by approaching them and saying,
"I met you with our mutual friend (state the friends name). I'd love to learn more about (state the topic)

Obviously change the way in which you learnt to know of them when initiating the conversation.

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Create a LinkedIn profile and make sure that you update it regularly.

Employers, professionals, and influencers may refer to your profile to see your career accomplishments. They will use this platform to see what you have been able to do, be it big or small.

Don't forget to add a 'linkedIn' photo - see tips on how to do this below!

Adding in your voluntary work is just as valuable and important as any paid work you may have done.

Last tip for networking via LinkedIn is to endorse other people, once you start doing this people will do the same for you.

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Networking can be a place where you...

Meet like minded people

To find potential recruiters and entrepreneurs with experiences

Find a mentor

A place to seek guidance, support and learn new things

It shows you are active in your career and enthusiastic about careers/ employment

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Networking is a way of interacting with other people to exchange information and develop contacts, especially to further your career.

It's like the saying -
"It's not what you know, it's who you know"

And that is why networking can be so valuable, not only will you meet people, you will begin to interact with a group of people that you become familiar with that are professionals.

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Linda Raynier - Talks about some interesting points to help you ace your interview

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Interview Tips to Get the Job | 5 Things You Need to Ace the Interview

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Free Online Training to Help You Nail Your Next Job Interview and Get the Job

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Free Online Training to Help You Nail Your Next Job Interview and Get the Job

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Linda Raynier CPA, CA | Career Strategist | Speaker | Coach

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Signup - Linda Raynier | Career Strategist | Career Coach

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Linda Raynier CPA, CA | Career Strategist | Speaker | Coach

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Here are just a few key examples

Be yourself

Draw upon your own experiences

Take with you some examples especially if the job you are going for is creative e.g. Graphic Designer, Fashion & Textiles, Art Teacher, Florist etc..

Think about your body language, do this before hand! Think about how you sit, use of hand gestures, eye contact, where your arms will be placed

Show that you have done your research, you could mention things about the company or department within your answers

SEE BELOW
Samantha Burton Shares Her 7 Tips

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The modern work environment is competitive and demanding, meaning you will need to confidently sell yourself. We've put together some interview tips on how to sell your experience and specific skills to achieve interview success.
F inding the right role means pitting yourself against other well-qualified and experienced candidates, so the ability to sell yourself to employers gives you the edge over other applicants with "paper" qualifications as good or better than yours. The key to ensuring you're the prime job candidate is your verbal communications.

Ultimately, ensuring you're the ideal candidate for jobs at any level means impressing your interviewer(s) in the right way to suit the role at hand. For example, you need to talk about previous experience, with appropriate links to the job on offer so that your valuable skills are seen to be a perfect match for the role.

Time spent researching the job, company and workplace ethos is invaluable. We have produced a variety of common interview questions and answers to guide you in preparing your sales pitch, which needs to be geared to the role and highlight your strengths and experiences.

Simple Tips for Selling Yourself at a Job Interview
Research
After researching the employer and role, you'll understand the level of responsibilities and tasks/responsibilities involved. Browse the tips and useful advice on the Interview Skills Consulting website to figure out the best approach to adopt. Your strategy may involve practising the STAR technique so your answers and responses at any form of interview are just "what" the recruiters are expecting.

Being well-prepared means you won't ramble or go off topic at interview. Try to prepare short snippets or "sound bites" to illustrate just how very wonderful you are, these can be used in different ways to answer a number of questions once you become adept at targeting your pitch to the levels required to impress.
Solve Problems
Companies will open up new roles to address problems they wish to solve - so if you can show that you are the person to solve that problem, then you have a good chance of success. Selling your own skills to address specific problems that may be mentioned in the job ad can have a big impact. Explain how you've solved similar issues in the past, and practice telling these stories in your own time.
Avoid clichés
Back up claims about your skills or experience, but avoid mentioning clichés that every candidate will mention. Instead of stating how you have achieved results, explain the results you've accomplished, and how you went about achieving them.
Practice
Take time to polish your responses. If this means carrying out "dummy" or rehearsal runs with friends, you're far more likely to succeed in the stressful interview environment. Your answers will be far more polished. If you're asked questions you don't quite understand, ask your interviewers to repeat the question and say why you don't quite grasp the meaning or intention of the query.
Be Attentive
Panel interviews are commonplace, so don't neglect to display an attentive appearance throughout the ordeal and establish eye contact with every member of the interviewing panel at the very start. Nonverbal communication can play a huge role in how you come across, so ensure your posture and facial expressions aren't negative. Paying attention to what your interviewer has to say is critical, and you will need to practice your handshake.
Build rapport
If you're attending selection or role play format interviews, it's a good idea to arrive early and attempt to establish rapport with fellow interviewees. This way, any scenario/role play games will kick off on a slightly more relaxed footing.
Be Yourself
Finally, relax as much as possible, don't forget to smile, allow your interviewer to see something of the "real" you and get a grasp of just how you will fit into the team.

In the modern environment, employers often drill candidates down via initial telephone or Skype selection, global employers may not even take the time to call you for personal interviews. So, it's important that if you are being interviewed in this fashion, you research and prepare answers/sound bites to likely pertinent questions.

Interviews can be scary, particularly if you're new to the jobs' market or returning to the workplace.Don't sell yourself short. Take time to prepare thoroughly and source the right job. You'll find the more interviews you attend, the higher your levels of confidence and delivery. So make the most of each and every interview situation as you will learn from mistakes and begin to hone and adapt your sales pitch to suit the employer.
Learn more about how to sell yourself at interviews or get in touch with Interview Skills Consulting direct.

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7 Interview Tips on How to Sell Yourself

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The modern work environment is competitive and demanding, meaning you will need to confidently sell yourself. We've put together some interview tips on how to sell your experience and specific skills to achieve interview success.

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Because your mental health and well being matters in all aspects of your life.

https://themindfulnessapp.com/

Especially when in employment, looking after yourself can have positive outcomes for you. For example; enjoying work, being around other, motivation, participation, contribution and overall SUCCESS!

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There's no shortage of mindfulness and meditation apps these days, promising to help you combat anxiety, sleep better, hone your focus, and more. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reports that more than 2,000 new meditation apps launched between 2015 and 2018, and offerings have only increased as a result of higher demand during the pandemic-according to the New York Times, mindfulness apps surged in 2020. We took the overwhelm out of finding the most valuable and easy-to-use meditation apps that are available free and narrowed it down to these four apps.

4 Free Meditation Apps We're Happy We Downloaded

Available for iOS, Android, and web

Entry price: Free

Insight Timer has a huge library of content: over 80,000 free guided meditations from over 10,000 teachers on topics like stress, relationships, healing, sleep, creativity, and more.

Right from the beginning, the app feels like a global community-the world map on the home screen shows a collective of 18 million meditators, and announces, "741k today, 7k now." After you finish a meditation, you'll learn exactly how many people were meditating "with you" during that time-and by setting your location, you can even see meditators nearby and what tracks they're listening to.

Once you find a teacher you enjoy-like Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Sharon Salzberg, or Rhonda Magee -you can follow them to make sure you don't miss any new content. You can also tune in to free talks for life advice and inspiration. For those craving real-time interactions, Insight Timer offers live events every hour of the day to join on a whim or plan into your schedule.

You can even sign up to Circle for Teams, one of their newer offerings, which allows you to create circles (read: groups) to meditate in real-time with friends or colleagues.

If you prefer a quieter meditation, however, you can simply set a timer and meditate to intermittent bells, calming ambient noise, or soothing music.

Depending on your preferences, Insight Timer's extensive collection can be either a blessing or a curse-an endless list of choices that leave you overwhelmed or a buffet of tempting options to sink your teeth into.

Paid option: For $60 per year (with a 30-day free trial), you get access to courses with well-known teachers, the ability to download meditations and listen offline, and advanced player functions like repeat mode and fast forward and rewind.

Available for iOS, Android, and web

Entry price: Free

Smiling Mind hits the sweet spot for a free mindfulness app in so many ways.

The not-for-profit app features hundreds of meditations, enough to keep you engaged without overwhelming you with choice. They are organized into structured programs like Mindful Foundations (35 sessions), Sleep (6 sessions), Digital Detox (8 sessions), and Stress Management (10 sessions), but you have the flexibility to choose where to start and to easily jump between programs. Most meditations are in the five- to fifteen-minute range, with a few practices up to 45 minutes for advanced meditators. Smiling Mind also offers bite-sized meditations between 2 to 5 minutes for moments when you're in need of a quick, mindful pause in the day.

Downloaded by over 5.5 million people, the app also has a variety of specialized programs for families, children and teens of various ages, healthcare workers, and educators (including curricula they can use in the classroom); all developed with the help of psychologists and health professionals.

While you could use a meditation app as a temporary break from your hectic life, Smiling Mind wants you to take your mindfulness practice off the cushion and into the rest of your day. Interspersed with some of the meditation programs are instructions for "activities" like Journaling Exercise, Go Offline, Where Did My Food Come From, and Count Your Senses. In the Count Your Senses activity, for example, the audio prompts you to bring your attention to your senses by counting things that can be seen, felt, heard, smelled and tasted.

Smiling Mind was originally created for kids, so they offer a robust selection of kid- and youth-appropriate mindfulness sessions.

Created by a nonprofit by the same name, Smiling Mind is entirely free-so you don't have the distraction of paid content that's inaccessible to you as a free user. The app wants to put a "smile on your mind"-and it might just succeed.

Paid option: None

Available for iOS and Android

Entry price: Free

If all the research on mindfulness has persuaded you that you need to meditate, the UCLA Mindful app could be a good place to start.

Developed by the Mindful Awareness Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the app features about a dozen meditations of different types in English and Spanish. You can learn to focus on your breath, your body, or sounds; work with difficult emotions; and cultivate loving-kindness in sessions ranging from 3 to 19 minutes long.

If you're new to mindfulness, you might choose to take advantage of their Getting Started section, which offers information on what mindfulness is, how to choose a meditation, which posture is best for your practice, and what research-backed benefits you might expect from it.

As a bonus, the app also offers longer meditations that it calls "podcasts." These are half-hour audio recordings of meditations that include talks, typically by UCLA Director of Mindfulness Education Diana Winston, before and after the meditation, as well as plenty of silent practice time.

If you're looking for an app that is heavily grounded in the science of mindfulness, you can put your trust in UCLA Mindful.

Paid option: None

Available for iOS and Android

Entry price: Free

The Healthy Minds Program app wants to help you develop the skills for a healthy mind-by strengthening mental focus, decreasing stress, and growing resilience, compassion, and better immune health.

Founded by neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson (who also founded the research institute Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison), the app integrates neuroscience and research-based techniques with meditation training to increase overall well-being.

The framework of the app's mindfulness and well-being training is organized into four pillars: Awareness, Connection, Insight, and Purpose. Each pillar consists of three to five parts, and each part contains three series and multiple sessions within. For the Connection pillar, for example, the Innate Self-Worth series includes five sessions packaged to foster self-worth (think sessions like Practice Seeing the Good In Ourselves, and Learn Negativity Bias). You have a choice of either a Sitting or Active type of practice-"active" practices include guidance for being mindful while you exercise, or during your commute-and you can customize the length of time (five minutes to 30 minutes).

The app offers a collection of 27 meditations outside their four-pillar wellness framework, including one-minute Micro Practices for when you're in need of a brief respite.

At times the podcast-style app may encourage more thinking compared to typical guided meditations, but for the listener who is seeking guided meditations with the greater goal to increase awareness, cognition, and well-being, Healthy Minds Program app may be just the ticket.

Paid option: None

When we meditate, we inject far-reaching and long-lasting benefits into our lives: We lower our stress levels, we get to know our pain, we connect better, we improve our focus, and we're kinder to ourselves. Let us walk you through the basics in our new mindful guide on how to meditate. Read More

Practicing gratitude has incredible effects, from improving our mental health to boosting our relationships with others. Explore ways you can be more appreciative in our mindful guide to gratitude. Read More

Mindful writing can lead you on the path of inner discovery. It can be the place where your experience meets your mindfulness practice, a place to encounter the twists and turns of your emotional life-and a bit of solid ground to stand on. Read More

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Free Meditation Apps Worthy of Your Attention

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We scoured the app stores to find the most popular, educational, and easy-to-use free meditation apps available.

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Take notes anywhere. Find information faster. Share ideas with anyone. Meeting notes, web pages, projects, to-do lists—with Evernote as your note taking app, nothing falls through the cracks

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Best Note Taking App - Organize Your Notes with Evernote

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Our note taking app helps you capture and prioritize ideas, projects and to-do lists, so nothing falls through the cracks. Start your free trial today!

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Todoist: The to do list to organise work & Life 

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Todoist: The to do list to organise work & Life 

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Under the 'Resources' tab you will find a complete 'Getting Started' guide for everything you need to know to get you on your way

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Todoist - The Best To Do List App & Task Manager

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15+ million people trust Todoist to tame life's chaos. Ranked by The Verge as the world's best to do list app. Free on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, & more.

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https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/grammarly-alternatives/

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Beyond Grammar
and Spelling

From grammar and spelling to style and tone, Grammarly helps you eliminate errors and find the perfect words to express yourself

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Cool Tools, are online apps or websites where you can access further information, help and support.

These are great for taking responsibility of your own learning, progression and success.

Great for both Personal & Work Life and even if you're thinking of starting your own business.

Some can be used on a daily basis and others you can save to use on days where you just need reassurance and guidance.

Check out some of our TOP suggestions to keep you Going!

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In this episode of the Breaking Barriers podcast we get an insight into how an incorrect perception of someone with a disability can unfairly result in a huge barrier to employment.

Aisling Gill-Dougherty is a 23 year old Politics and International Relations student at the University of Reading. She also happens to have Cerebral Palsy. In this episode we listen in as Aisling meets Josh Krichefski, the Chief Executive of Media Com UK, part of one of the biggest advertising agencies in the world. Aisling is accompanied by Sarah Knott who is one of Aisling's personal assistants.

The pair met at the Media Com offices in central London to discuss what it's like to achieve ambitions in the workplace without suitable role models; the practicalities of employing someone who requires a personal assistant to communicate effectively; and why employers attitudes towards disabilities need to change.

Throughout this series, presented by Yassmin Abdel-Magied, you'll hear six inspiring, intimate and frank conversations between those who hold power in sought-after industries and the people struggling to find their way due to a variety of barriers that life throws up.
You can search Breaking Barriers and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Cast, Castbox or wherever you get your podcasts from.

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People with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be unemployed than non-disabled people. In this episode of the Breaking Barriers podcast we get an insight into how an incorrect perception of someone with a disability can unfairly result in a huge barrier to employment.

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This week on the Breaking Barriers podcast we take a look at the obstacles to employment and career progression thrown up by conditions such as Autism. How can businesses truly embrace neurodiversity?

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Other ways to support yourself in the workplace, making it more accessible and comfortable

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Other ways to support yourself in the workplace, making it more accessible and comfortable

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Desk lamps

Rise and fall desks

Ergonomic chair

Wrist rests

Under desk foot rest (adjustable)

Ergonomic mouse

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Accessible Equipment, Systems & Settings for Deaf  of Hard of Hearing Individuals 

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Accessible Equipment, Systems & Settings for Deaf  of Hard of Hearing Individuals 

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Recording devices such as Dictaphone, roger pen

Radio Aid

Digital streamer

Loop systems

Amplified devices such as,

telephones

Notification settings

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Equipment that can be helpful for Visual Impairment 

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Equipment that can be helpful for Visual Impairment 

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Modified calendars

Magnifiers - handheld, electronic, and those that can take photographs, apps, small pocket fold-able magnifiers

Lighting equipment

Talking books & audio players

Stationary - lined note pads

Clocks, stopwatches and timers

LED lighting keyboard, additional screen, large key keyboards, telephone sets

Online; screen readers, such as the ones described above.

Touch typing courses

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Supports people of any age, living with any disability or impairment to use technology to achieve their goals at home, at work and in education. We do this by providing specialist advice services, free information resources and by helping to build a more accessible digital world.

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AbilityNet supports people of any age, living with any disability or impairment to use technology to achieve their goals at home, at work and in education. We do this by providing specialist advice services, free information resources and by helping to build a more accessible digital world.

Covid-19 risk assessment

Making an impact: AbilityNet Impact Report 2019

Our values

Our services

Accessibility Services

AbilityNet has a team of accessibility consultants and testers who work with digital teams in blue-chip companies such as Barclays, Lloyds Bank The FA and Microsoft to design and maintain accessible websites, apps and other digital services.

Find out more about our Accessibility Services

DSA/Student Services

Disabled Students' Allowances are a UK Government Grant to help any eligible student get the most from their higher education.

Our expert Assessors provide one-to-one advice and information to identify technology and other adjustments that will help them succeed in their education.

Find out more about our DSA/Students Services

Expert Resources

We provide factsheets, blogs, webinars and videos about the many ways that technology can help people with disabilities.

My Computer My Way is our unique guide to the many adjustments that make your computer, laptop, tablet and smartphone easier to use.

Find out more about our expert resources

IT Support for Disabled and Older People At Home

We provide a range of free services for disabled people, their family and friends, their employers and other people who care for them.

Call our free Helpline on 0800 048 7462 to ask anything about how computers can be adapted to meet the needs of disabled people.

Our network of IT Can Help volunteers visit disabled people in their home to help with everyday IT needs.

Workplace Services

Technology can help people with all types of disability and impairment, but everyone has different needs.

Our professional assessors carefully identify the mix of technologies and adaptations that enables a disabled person to be more productive at work.

Read more about our Workplace Services

Opportunities with AbilityNet

We are always keen to hear from people that share a vision of a digital world that is accessible to all. For information about current opportunites with AbilityNet visit our vacancies page.

AbilityNet is a Disability Confident Leader - we aim to make the most of the opportunities provided by employing disabled people. Disability Confident is a government scheme, is voluntary and has been developed by employers and disabled people's representatives.

As a charity we have a Board of Trustees drawn from a wide range of business and not for profit backgrounds.
Find out more about the AbilityNet Trustees
Corporate Supporters

Other Funders and Supporters

Legal Status

AbilityNet is a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No: 3469653. AbilityNet is a Charity, registered in England and Wales, registration number 1067673, and in Scotland registration number SC039866.

Registered Office: Acre House, 11/15 William Road, London NW1 3ER

Our IT and Technical Security Commitment

We regularly review and update our policies and procedures with regards to our overall IT and technical security, for the assurance of both our staff and our customers. We ensure that our general environment is a safe and secure one in which to conduct our business and protecting our customers' data is a fundamental requirement of the services we offer. You can view our Cyber Essentials - Certificate of Assurance on our website which evidences our commitment and details what we have achieved.

Annual Accounts

Download copies of our recent annual accounts below.

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AbilityNet supports people of any age, living with any disability or impairment to use technology to achieve their goals at home, at work and in education. We do this by providing specialist advice services, free information resources and by helping to build a more accessible digital world.

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It's good to take advice, guidance and explore what is right for you. But the end choice should be yours!

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It's good to take advice, guidance and explore what is right for you. But the end choice should be yours!

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Disclosing a disability to a potential employer is not as easy as ABC. It can be overwhelming and off putting. Don't feel pressured but at the same time think about the opportunity and how successful you might be in the process if you decide to disclose or not.

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How to use your disability as a strength when applying for jobs

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How to use your disability as a strength when applying for jobs

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Real experience from James, the advice he was given and what he did to improve his chances of being successful at interviews and securing jobs

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Dear Employer, I'm James, a mathematics graduate from the University of Bath, who's not able to do things which most people can. My biggest weaknesses include ..."

This is clearly not the best way to kick off a CV or job application, though it's exactly what I thought I'd be doing when I disclosed my disability applying for a graduate job.

I am clearly not alone. Recent research conducted by greatwithdisability.com noted 77% of disabled applicants were fearful of disclosing their disability in case of discrimination.

I have cerebral palsy, a physical disability I've had since being born 11 weeks premature. Due to my disability, I walk with two walking sticks, can only walk short distances, and have trouble balancing unaided. My life has been a constant adaption to the norm. I went to a specialist primary school before being integrated into mainstream education. I went through my childhood not having the ability to ride a bike or play football; thus I spent my time at adapted youth clubs and playing disability sport. I drive a car with adapted hand controls instead of conventional pedals. These adaptions and adjustments have become common place in society, though the working world is often seen as being steps behind.

My biggest fear when applying for graduate roles was that my disability would mean I'd be phased out or not considered to be up to standard. It's an incredibly difficult position to be in. How do I accurately, yet positively, portray my disability? When, if at all, do I disclose my disability to my potential employer? And, how can I be sure my disability doesn't affect my ability to do my job, especially once I've been hired and I'm in the working environment for real?

I work for EY, a professional services firm I've been with for four years, since joining as a graduate in 2011. Looking back, there were three pivotal steps to my success when securing my first job.

1. The application form

The first tip I was given by careers advisers, which should be ignored, is "do not disclose your disability". This lack of openness appealed to my fears of discrimination and was the obvious, easy choice. Not disclosing, however, really restricted my options when application forms started to ask for examples, such as:

Examples of times when I'd worked in a team

Examples of times when I've overcome a challenge

I had limited myself: my wheelchair tennis or multilevel orthopaedic surgery were clearly great examples that I now couldn't reference. I ended up hiding the true me.

Suffice to say, my application to EY was one of the few where I was completely open. This decision was made easier by being presented a text box in which I could write about my disability, rather than just a box to tick.

2. The interview

The second tip I ignored was the ignorant phrase that if the application form was where you "talk the talk"; the interview is where you "walk the walk". That's not quite the right advice to give a physically disabled candidate.

I recall part-time job interviews I failed in after hiding my disability on my CV or application form. I ended up feeling incredibly uncomfortable during the interviews since, as the panel had only just realised my disability, conversation inevitably turned to how it may impact my ability to perform the job. It quickly became apparent that the sooner I was open about my disability, the sooner the employer could consider reasonable adjustments and see past my potential disadvantages. I suppose I was better off not gaining that bartender job after all.

I used my interviews instead to show the true me, with shortcomings that I was aware of, and development points I knew I could strengthen. It seems that suffering from a disability can give you a tremendous level of self-awareness which shouldn't be ignored.

Being open also allowed me to make sure all the necessary adjustments were in place for a fair interview, such as a suitable chair and accessible facilities.

3. The career

The final tip, the one I use every day, is this: make sure the role you're applying for allows you to be the best you can be. This matches my experiences perfectly.

Being open throughout the recruitment process and now with my colleagues and co-workers, means I can continue to be at my best. I can continue to live an (adapted) working life, and I can be proud of each of my successes.

My disability has started to enable me to make a difference. Working for a multinational firm I've been able to promote disability awareness on a larger scale, and, through their support, I've been able to raise thousands of pounds for charity and advertise the abilities of disability.

There is still a long way to go. Disability is such a broad definition, and a disability can affect each person in such a variety of ways, but that, in my view, is even more reason to continue to broadcast the best things about disability.

While my four years of working life have not been plain sailing, they have shown me there are no barriers to success which can't be overcome. I wish I could tell my newly-graduated self that I should have had confidence in my potential employers, and confidence in myself. Recruiters want to hire real people, with real experiences, and having a disability means you have a unique perspective, an inherent ability to overcome adversity.

Next time when someone asks me whether to disclose my disability, I will respond confidently:

Dear Employer. I have a disability. It doesn't completely define me, it just enhances me in a way which differentiates and strengthens me. My disability should be viewed as an ability: to see the world in a different way."

Looking for a job? Browse Guardian Jobs or sign up to Guardian Careers for the latest job vacancies and career advice

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How to use your disability as a strength when applying for jobs

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Dear Employer, I'm James, a mathematics graduate from the University of Bath, who's not able to do things which most people can. My biggest weaknesses include ..." This is clearly not the best way to kick off a CV or job application, though it's exactly what I thought I'd be doing when I disclosed my disability applying for a graduate job.

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below is a list of the software available on our AT computers in the Library and for which you can book a one-to-one tutorial:

Claro Read (Text-to-Speech)

Texthelp Read & Write (Text-to-Speech/Speech-to-Text)

Dragon (Speech-to-Text)

Audio Notetaker (Note-taking)

Notetalker (Note-taking)

MindView (Mind Mapping)

Inspiration (Mind Mapping)

Mind Genius (Mind Mapping)

ZoomText (Magnification and screen customisation

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There is lots of different information out there on assistive technology.

You may already have access to some through your Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), If you do, that's great! You will have found ones that work well for you and that you tend to use more often. There may also be some that you have not yet tried or not confident in using.

Some may not have heard of DSA or may not be eligible meaning you don't necessarily have access to all the software or other technology. However, did you know DMU has lots of accessible tech? Check out the post below on what DMU Library can offer.

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Remploy can support You & Your Employer 

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Remploy can support You & Your Employer 

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We deliver employment and skills support across the UK, helping vulnerable people to gain new qualifications and find sustainable work.

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Over 25? Need support with employability skills? 

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Over 25? Need support with employability skills? 

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Links to Work - Leicester can help!

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You will have access to your own personal consultant who will help you plan your journey back into work. We'll work with you to identify your strengths, skills and abilities and identify any barriers you may have to employment.
We will provide you with a comprehensive support package, giving you the confidence to make those first steps back into work.

Our specialist employment consultants will work with you to identify your skills and match these to a job that is right for you. We also work with a wide range of employers, across different work areas, to identify suitable vacancies.

Once you are in work our support doesn't stop there. We'll keep in touch with you to make sure everything's going well. We'll be on hand to answer any questions, and to support you with any challenges you might face.

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You will have access to your own personal consultant who will help you plan your journey back into work. We'll work with you to identify your strengths, skills and abilities and identify any barriers you may have to employment. We will provide you with a comprehensive support package, giving you the confidence to make those first steps back into work.

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If you have learning disability and are looking for a job, or an employer interested in working with people with a learning disability, we can help.

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Questions to ask at the End of an Interview | Career Interview Tips

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Areas you can improve

Can help you identify areas of strength you may not have realised you acquire

Builds rapport with company, which is great for future careers

Leaves a lasting impression, which can also be positive for future job prospects for that company

Allows you to develop soft skills as well as specific skills which are required within your industry

Helps you to understand the outcome of the interview and know what areas you can focus on for your next interview or for when you start your new role

You will gain what level of expectation is required from the feedback they give

Simple as - Having Interview Experience & Receiving Constructive Criticism - how you use this information is up to you, but it would be a good idea to listen to what the professionals are saying! We think we are great at what we do, especially things that we are passionate about. However, industry experts or professionals may not necessarily see what you see and that is where the 'Selling Yourself' comes in.

Employers seeking to take on new employees often are excited to see what the 'new' person can bring to their company or department. They may have even thought about ares where than can develop you further using their in-house training or development schemes. Some also think about what your future might be at the company in 24 months time, and that in itself is great!

There seems to be some negative connotations to 'selling yourself' but actually if it is done in the right way, then what have you got to loose?

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Asking questions to do with the following can be unique...

Training Opportunities

Progression & Development

Travel Opportunities

Sharing Disability Awareness

How the company supports employees at work - Benefits?

Bringing About New Ideas

Company or Department Culture

Insight - e.g.  What does a typical week or day look like within the department?

Check out the video below. Cass explains themed questions to considered.

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And Practice Out Loud!

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When you are successful and unsuccessful...

If you get the job  - ask for feedback. This will help you understand why you were appointed, what they liked about you, was there particular things they felt were positive etc. They may have seen opportunity to develop you further in the areas of the job description.
Having this insight, will help boost your confidence and self-esteem. Not only that, it shows you have the ability to do the job and they believe that you will be successful too.

If you don't get the job - ask for feedback. This feedback is vital to allow you to develop your skills further. Whether that is answering techniques, research pre interview, drawing on relevant experiences etc.

Either way, feedback can be useful for now and the future. See below 'Benefits of Interview Feedback'

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What to do if an employer doesn't get back to you in the time frame they said they would?

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What to do if an employer doesn't get back to you in the time frame they said they would?

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There could be a valid reason as to why an employer may not have got in touch post interview.
Some of these reasons are;

Still interviewing candidates

Have not yet made a decision

They do not have the capacity to let everyone know the outcome if unsuccessful especially if the post had a large number of applicants

The advertised job may not be suitable and they could be making changes

The company may have some in-house conflicts with policy they may need to resolve with HR before continuing and so on...

However, there is no harm in calling the company and asking to speak to the chair interviewer or a simple email to the HR team asking if a final decision has been made.

Of course, it is important to wait until the time frame in which was given has passed before making any contact.

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Usually, at the end of an interview the candidate will be informed when the panel will be making their final decision as well as roughly when they will inform you of the outcome.

The panel will also let you know whether they will contact you by telephone or via email.