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Finding work as a young person with a disability

Everyone can work!

Having a paid job is an important part of most people’s lives and helps to make us who we are. People do all sorts of jobs. They look for jobs they like and they are good at. There are a lot of different jobs that you could learn to do. 

The Government said in 2005 that “any disabled person who wants a job, and needs support to get a job, should be able to do so”

Getting a job when you have a disability or special educational needs can be difficult. You may meet a lot of barriers and have to face lots of challenges.

Stay positive and don’t give up!

Many people do not find their ideal job straight away. However it is important to keep working towards having a job. There are people that can help and support you and there are other things that you can do which may make it easier.

Top Tips

Have a think about what sort of job you want

  • what things do you like to do?
  • what things are you good at?
  • how many hours a week you want to work?
  • where do you want to work?
  • Can you get there easily?

Find out what your family and friends think too, do they have any ideas?

Watch a video about Scope's Support to Work Programme.

  • Volunteering is a way to get experience of working without getting paid. It can help you to find a job.
  • Do some training to help you to decide what sort of a job you might enjoy.
  • Get help and support. There are many people who could help you to find a job and make sure you have the right support to make it work. This could be your family, your teacher, a Disability Employment Advisor at your local Job Centre, Supported Employment Agencies or a job coach for example.
  • Think about what other support you might need to get a job, is there anyone else who could help, would a piece of equipment help?, some training?, or some extra funding?
  • Volunteering is a way to get experience of working without getting paid. It can help you to find a job.
  • Do some training to help you to decide what sort of a job you might enjoy.
  • Get help and support. There are many people who could help you to find a job and make sure you have the right support to make it work. This could be your family, your teacher, a Disability Employment Advisor at your local Job Centre, Supported Employment Agencies or a job coach for example.
  • Think about what other support you might need to get a job, is there anyone else who could help, would a piece of equipment help?, some training?, or some extra funding?

When you’re looking for work, look on adverts and application forms for the ‘disability confident’ symbol.

Disability confident logo

This symbol means:

  • the employer is committed to employing disabled people.
  • you’ll be guaranteed an interview if you meet the basic conditions for the job

Find out about jobs in your area on the Find a Job website.

Getting help

Your local Jobcentre can help you find a job or gain new skills and tell you about disability-friendly employers in your area.

They can also refer you to a specialist work psychologist, if appropriate, or carry out an ‘employment assessment’, asking you about:

  • your skills and experience
  • what kind of roles you’re interested in

More information on Training and Employment

Programmes and grants

Your work coach can tell you about programmes and grants to help you back into work. These include:

When you’re looking for work, look on adverts and application forms for the ‘disability confident’ symbol.

Disability confident logo

This symbol means:

  • the employer is committed to employing disabled people.
  • you’ll be guaranteed an interview if you meet the basic conditions for the job

Find out about jobs in your area on the Find a Job website.

Getting help

Your local Jobcentre can help you find a job or gain new skills and tell you about disability-friendly employers in your area.

They can also refer you to a specialist work psychologist, if appropriate, or carry out an ‘employment assessment’, asking you about:

  • your skills and experience
  • what kind of roles you’re interested in

More information on Training and Employment

Programmes and grants

Your work coach can tell you about programmes and grants to help you back into work. These include:

You need to decide what is best for you.

  • full-time work may be difficult for some people if they get tired easily or have a medical condition
  • for some people a mix of part-time paid work, voluntary work and leisure is a good choice
  • 16 hours is the aim for many but it could start at as little as one hour a week.
  • you will earn money if you find a job.
  • do you receive any benefits now? You may lose these (or some of these) if you earn more than a certain amount. Benefits checker
  • getting a job can mean that you are better off financially than being on benefits but also better off in lots of other ways too.

You need to decide what is best for you.

  • full-time work may be difficult for some people if they get tired easily or have a medical condition
  • for some people a mix of part-time paid work, voluntary work and leisure is a good choice
  • 16 hours is the aim for many but it could start at as little as one hour a week.
  • you will earn money if you find a job.
  • do you receive any benefits now? You may lose these (or some of these) if you earn more than a certain amount. Benefits checker
  • getting a job can mean that you are better off financially than being on benefits but also better off in lots of other ways too.
Applying for a job

You may be able to apply for an Access to Work grant if you need communication support at your job interview (for example, a British Sign Language interpreter or a lipspeaker).

There are some organisations which help with filling in application forms and writing CV's. For example:

Sense

National Careers Service

Scope

Questions about your health or disability

An employer is not normally allowed to ask you questions about your health or disability before they offer you a job.

They can only ask you about this for very limited reasons, for example to:

  • make ‘reasonable adjustments’ - for example if you need a large print version of a test
  • decide if you can do something that is an essential part of the job

If something doesn't seem right and you don't think an employer is being fair you can call the Disability Rights Helpline for advice.

Applying for a job

You may be able to apply for an Access to Work grant if you need communication support at your job interview (for example, a British Sign Language interpreter or a lipspeaker).

There are some organisations which help with filling in application forms and writing CV's. For example:

Sense

National Careers Service

Scope

Questions about your health or disability

An employer is not normally allowed to ask you questions about your health or disability before they offer you a job.

They can only ask you about this for very limited reasons, for example to:

  • make ‘reasonable adjustments’ - for example if you need a large print version of a test
  • decide if you can do something that is an essential part of the job

If something doesn't seem right and you don't think an employer is being fair you can call the Disability Rights Helpline for advice.

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