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Employment

Everyone who wants to work should be able to do so. Our report, ‘Realising Aspiration for All’ found that disabled people in work tend to have lower paid jobs, and find it difficult to progress their career.

Support is available if you’re disabled and want to get into work. The law requires employers to make reasonable adjustment for employees with a disability to make sure they are not disadvantaged in the work place. If you need more support though, a programme called Access to Work is available to pay for any additional support you might need.

Read our report, 'Realising Aspiration for All', to find out more about the barriers that disabled people face in the workplace.

Access to Work

Access to Work is a scheme funded by the government to help disabled people get into work and keep their job. It provides additional support that is not covered by your employer making reasonable adjustments. 

You can apply for Access to Work support if you live in England, Wales, or Scotland, but Northern Ireland has a different system.

Access to Work provides support based on your needs, and can pay for special equipment such as a braille keyboard, workplace adaptations such as tactile paving, or a support worker such as a BSL interpreter. You may also be eligible for support getting to and from work. 

In order to be eligible for support, you must have a paid job, or be about to start or return to one. Access to Work doesn’t cover voluntary work experience. 
For more information and how to apply, visit the gov.uk.

Employment Resources

We have produced a guide for people with sensory impairments to help get into work. We have also produced a series of guides to help employers and healthcare workers to support deafblind people in the workplace.

We have produced a short guide for employers that includes advice on supporting people with complex sensory and communication needs in the workplace.

A factsheet for healthcare workers, about how to support people who are deafblind and wish to enter or stay in employment.

An employment guide for people with sensory impairments.

Your rights and benefits

Find out more about your rights and benefits, including information about social care.

Read more