Introduction
If you're a disabled student, you can access Careers Plus appointments. You can also access specific events throughout the year.
A disability is defined as:
- a condition that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your everyday life.
- a long-term health condition including mental health or long-term chronic illness such as Crohn’s Disease, Asthma and ME.
- a physical or sensory impairment, such as sight or hearing loss, or a specific learning disability such as dyslexia or dyspraxia. It also includes mobility impairments and autism (including Asperger's).
Careers Plus appointments and support
If you have disclosed a disability
If you have disclosed a disability to the University, you can book Careers Plus Appointments.
You can use these appointments to talk about any careers issue relating to your disability. This could include:
- disclosing a disability
- support in a recruitment process
- support when starting a placement or graduate job
Book these appointments through MyFuture.
If you are unsure or have not disclosed a disability
You can still access this support if you are unsure or have not yet disclosed a disability to the University. Email us at careers-plus@bath.ac.uk or visit the Careers Centre.
Autism-friendly advice
We have created a guide to make our advice and support autism-friendly. It is aimed at both students and staff. Go to Careers tips on providing autism-friendly advice.
We are always looking for ways to be more inclusive and make our appointments accessible to everyone. Contact us if you have suggestions for other considerations to include in the guide.
Researching disability friendly employers
Organisations supporting students in placements and jobs
Specialist recruiters who help disabled students:
- MyPlus Students' Club is our partner organisation; register with them for extra support
- Change 100 provide internships for students and graduates
- EmployAbility
- Evenbreak
- Scope
- Blind in Business
Autistic students
Organisations that specifically support autistic students and graduates:
Students with mental health conditions
Mind is an organisation that supports students and graduates with mental health conditions in several ways. They have information about your rights around telling an employer about a mental health condition.
Student Minds Bath is our University SU branch of the national group that supports students during their time at the University.
The Mindful Employer programme helps you find employers who have signed the Charter for Employers Positive About Mental Health. These employers are committed to supporting people with mental health conditions.
Disability Confident scheme
Some companies are registered as Disability Confident under a government scheme. The Disability Confident employer scheme:
- encourages employers to think differently about disability and to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.
- helps employers make the most of the talents that disabled people can bring to the workplace.
- is voluntary and has three levels designed to support employers on their Disability Confident journey.
Disability Confident employers commit to offering interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a role.
View a list of employers that have signed up to the scheme.
Disability Forum
Many organisations are members of the Business Disability Forum. This forum accredits organisations with a Disability Standard and encourages businesses to become more disability-smart. View the list of members in the Business Disability Forum.
Search on MyFuture
Find roles or schemes aimed at students with disabilities on MyFuture. Select 'Equality and diversity' in the type of opportunity field under 'more search options'. You can also use keywords to narrow down your results. For example, search for ‘disab’ to find relevant opportunities that contain 'disabled' or 'disability'.
Disclosing a disability and requesting reasonable adjustments
It’s understandable to feel apprehensive about revealing a disability during the recruitment process or once you start work.
But there are positive reasons to disclose a disability. Disclosing can:
- give you a chance to request reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process.
- give you the best chance to perform well at interview.
- help create a level playing field so that you can compete fairly with other applicants.
Visit Careers or book a Careers Plus appointment for help with disclosing a disability. Book a Careers Plus appointment on MyFuture.
Your rights around disclosure
The Equality Act 2010 gives legal protection to job applicants and disabled employees. Here's a summary of the main points:
- it's unlawful to discriminate against workers because of a disability, or to fail to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled worker or job applicant.
- you do not have to disclose your disability unless there are safety issues linked to the job you've applied for.
- you can disclose at any point in the recruitment process including, for example, at interview.
View resources on disclosure
View our webinar recording on disclosure in MyFuture.
Read MyPlus Students' Club's information on disclosure and requesting extra support.
Further information
View our Get Started Guide on disability and your career journey in MyFuture for a collection of resources.
Find out more about our additional support for disabled students.