Employers play a vital role in supporting young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND*) into work and preparing them for adulthood, including by offering supported internships.

There is also a great deal of support and advice on offer to employers to ensure they are able and prepared to do this in the best way, including by ensuring their recruitment practices are accessible and inclusive.

One focus is on disability awareness and etiquette, which involves educating people about different disabilities and how to engage with people with SEND in a way that allows them to carry out a specific task.

This is predicated on the simple philosophy: “Do not assume”. Do not assume that someone with SEND needs help or views their disability as a negative thing. In this way, we can challenge outdated social conventions rather than reinforce them.

“Disability awareness is the practice of knowing, acknowledging, and accepting individuals’ experiences as they relate to disability. Moving beyond your own level of comfort is key to a greater understanding.” - Disability Rights UK

* SEND is a term used if an individual has a special educational need and/or disability which means they need additional support.

Employing people with SEND: stats, stigma and support

• Government guidance (employing people with disabilities and health conditions)
• Careers and Enterprise Company (resources for employers working with young people with SEND)
• Stigma and discrimination - research and statistics
• Adults with a learning disability - employment statistics versus rest of population
• The Employer Guide to Supported Internships

How much do you know about different disabilities and conditions?

Learn more about some of the different disabilities people can have and find resources to help you support current and potential employees with SEND.

ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

• ADHD Foundation (services for businesses)
• ADHD UK (employer support)
• Mind
• UK ADHD Partnership

Autism

• National Autistic Society (staff training)
• National Autistic Society (reasonable adjustments in the workplace)
• Autisticality (accessibility and adjustments guide)
• Nuerodiverse Self Advocacy (NDSA)
• Talkback

For more detail about how to conduct an interview process for people with autism, read this article.

Cerebral palsy

• Business Disability Forum (cerebral palsy factsheet)
• The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement (support for employers)
• Careers with Disabilities

Down's syndrome

• Down’s Syndrome Association
• Down’s Syndrome Association (employment support)
• Mencap
• North Bucks Down’s Syndrome Group
• South Bucks Down’s Syndrome Group
• WorkFit (employment programme, employer training)

Dyslexia

• British Dyslexia Association (employer support)
• British Dyslexia Association (creating a dyslexia-friendly workplace)
• Made by Dyslexia (dyslexia in the workplace)

Dyspraxia

• Dyspraxia Foundation
• Dyspraxia Foundation (employer support)
• Movement Matters UK

Hearing impairment

• Royal Association for Deaf People (employer/employment support)
• Royal Association for Deaf People (deaf awareness training)
• Royal National Institute for Deaf People (about hearing loss)
• Royal National Institute for Deaf People (about tinnitus)
• Royal National Institute for Deaf People (support for an inclusive workplace)

Learning disabilities

• Learning disabilities vs learning difficulties: the difference
• Mencap (learning disability explained)
• Mencap (resources for employers)
• British Institute of Learning Disabilities (workplace development support)

Visual impairment

• Royal National Institute of Blind People (information for employers)
• Sense (about blindness and visual impairment)
• Sense (job and workplace support for individuals)
• The Partially Sighted Society (visual impairment awareness training)
• LOOK (for visually-impaired young people)

Other conditions

Dyscalculia

• Dyscalculia Network
• National Numeracy (what is dyscalculia?)
• National Numeracy (supporting your staff)

Epilepsy

• Epilepsy Action
• Epilepsy Society

Insomnia

• The Insomnia Clinic (employer support, facts and figures)
• The Sleep Charity (employer advice and information)

Narcolepsy

• Narcolepsy UK (supporting a person with narcolepsy)

Want to know more?

• Learn more about supported internships
• Ensure you have an accessible and inclusive recruitment process
• The Employer Guide to Supported Internships

For more information and support, contact the Workforce Skills Team at Buckinghamshire Business First:

• email: WorkforceSkills@bbf.uk.com
• call: 01494 927130