Disability, neurodiversity & mental health careers support

If you are a disabled student, Careers Network is here to support you.

The Equality Act 2010 safeguards disabled applicants from discrimination during the recruitment process and in employment. Employers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled individuals to ensure equal job opportunities.

Careers Network offers support in the following ways:

  • Connecting you to employers and job opportunities that will enable you to achieve your full potential, and give you fair access to graduate roles
  • Providing information about bespoke mentoring and internship opportunities, and organisations with programmes that support students with disabilities, neurodiversity and mental health conditions
  • Connecting you to staff, students and alumni with a similar background and experiences, and who can support you through peer or alumni mentoring, or with careers advice and guidance
  • Providing resources to help you understand what to expect from an employer and how to talk about equality, diversity, and inclusion in employment, and keep you informed about your equal rights

Connecting you to employers

We understand that each individual's experience is unique and we strive to ensure that our services are tailored to meet your specific needs.

EmploYability offers dedicated support and advice, to remove barriers in employment. Graduate programmes, internships, events, scholarships, mentorships are also listed. Topics such as knowing your rights, reasonable adjustments and tips for interviews are covered via online webinar recordings. Careers with Disabilities is an online UK disability-friendly jobs board. They also offer a free Disability Advice Hub, information on Grants and Schemes  and other online resources in the ‘Support for Disabled People’ section. 

Ambitious About Autism offers updates on work opportunities, internships and resources for autistic people aged 16-25 years. Registration required.  

Resource list

  • MyPlus Students' Club - offers careers advice, mentorship programmes and access to exclusive job opportunities with employers who value diversity and inclusion
  • Inclusive Companies - companies who are making a postitive impact 
  • Workplace Diversity and Equality
  • Video from Change 100 about how to talk to employers about a disability and ask for adjustments
  • An FAQs section from EmploYability offers advice on a number of topics including disability disclosure and webinars, such as on your rights and tips for interviews
  • Ambitious about Autism  - resources on many topics, including a section on health & wellbeing. The have an ‘Ambitious Youth Network’ to connect with others and a Blog sharing news, personal experiences and services available. 

MyPlus Pathway

The MyPlus Pathway on Careers Connect will help you build confidence when applying to roles and opportunities with a disability.

Gaining work experience

Whilst you are studying here at UoB, you can gain work experience, which will support you in your employability.

There are many ways to gain this experience, either through our programmes at UoB or with external organisations.

Remember, work experience does not have to be a full-time internship; it can be something which fits around your studies during term-time or during the holidays.

If working during term time, the University recommends that you only work 15 hours maximum per week to support you in balancing your studies with work.

Resource list 

Internal opportunities at UoB 

External opportunities

  • Change 100 internships - connects disabled students and graduates with employers for paid summer work placements and professional development
  • The Civil Service Fast Stream - offers programmes, which are open to students in their penultimate or final year
  • EmploYability  - Lists internships, graduate programmes and events available from organisations who are their inclusive partners. Mentoring and scholarship opportunities also advertised 
  • Ambitious about Autism - resources on many topics, including a section on health & wellbeing. The have an ‘Ambitious Youth Network’ to connect with others and a Blog sharing news, personal experiences and services available. 

Mentoring and Networking

Mentoring schemes and networking allow students to engage with industry professionals that are like-minded, who help initiate conversation around you and your career development.

They empower and motivate you to understand your goals and advise you on how you can achieve them.

Resource list

External Resources

Driving the change within

Meet our students and graduates who come from a varied range of backgrounds sharing their success stories and what helped them the most.

To register with the University's Disability Service, please visit our dedicated webpage and fill out the registration form to receive the support and accommodations you need during your academic journey.

You also might like to consider joining SANDAM (formerly known as DAMSA) - Students' Association for Neurodivergence, Disability and Mental Health, a student group at The Guild that welcomes students who identify as having a disability, offering a supportive and inclusive community for exploration and connection.

Watch this video from Change 100 about how disabled students can talk to employers about their disability and how to ask for adjustments:

Video can be opened in YouTube for transcript

Finding employment - your rights

This section aims to provide you further advice on finding various opportunities, organisations and networks that support our students and graduates with disabilities.

Employers' drive to have a diverse organisation has improved over time and has become more inclusive in their recruitment process.

What to look for when researching employers

When considering potential employers, it's essential to research their commitment to diversity and inclusion, especially in supporting individuals with disabilities. Look for evidence of workplace accommodations, inclusive policies, employee resource groups, and testimonials, ensuring their actions align with their stated values.

Research Checklist 

Colleges

Professional Services