Employment
Everyone who wants to work should be able to do so. The government and employers must support people with complex disabilities to find challenging and rewarding employment.
Everyone who wants to work should be able to do so. The government and employers must support people with complex disabilities, including those who are deafblind, to find challenging and rewarding employment.
Employers may have a negative view of people’s abilities, or may be unsure how to support them.
People have told us that recruitment processes, such as filling in a job application or accessing the Jobcentre Plus, can be impossible to navigate. There is also a fear of discrimination.
Our report, ‘Realising Aspirations for All’, found that disabled people in work tend to have lower paid jobs and earn less than non-disabled colleagues. Many also find it more difficult to progress their career.
What we're calling for
We want the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus to:
- Support everyone who wants to get into work, regardless of the benefits they claim or their assessed level of disability. This support is currently only available to disabled people who receive certain benefits or those deemed ‘capable’ of working, and not to others. This needs to change.
- Provide employment support that is tailored to people’s needs. People who are deafblind or have other complex disabilities may require specialist support that is different to the more general disability help available.
- Provide training for advisors, assessors and employers to increase their knowledge and understanding of complex disabilities, including deafblindness.
What we're doing
Our ‘Realising Aspirations for All’ report explores people’s experiences of working and looking for employment.
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Realising Aspirations for All (2707kb)
A print-ready PDF version of the Realising Aspirations for All: Improving access to employment for people who are deafblind report.
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Realising Aspirations for All (Word) (73kb)
A print-ready Word version of the Realising Aspirations for All: Improving access to employment for people who are deafblind report, for improved accessibility.
We have produced a short guide for employers that includes advice on supporting disabled people with complex sensory and communication needs in the workplace.
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How to Support People with Sensory Impairments in Employment (613kb)
A print-ready PDF version of the How to Support People with Sensory Impairments in Employment guide.
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How to Support People with Sensory Impairments in Employment (Word) (58kb)
A print-ready PDF version of the How to Support People with Sensory Impairments in Employment guide.
A factsheet for healthcare workers, about how to support people who are deafblind and wish to enter or stay in employment.
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How can people who are deafblind be supported to find work (PDF) (213kb)
A print-ready PDF version of the guide, How can people are deafblind be supported to find work?
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How can people who are deafblind be supported to find work? (Word) (48kb)
A print-ready Word version of the guide, How can people are deafblind be supported to find work?
An employment guide for people with sensory impairments.
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I want to work! An employment guide for people with sensory impairments (PDF) (1036kb)
A print-ready PDF version of the I want to work! An employment guide for people with sensory impairments report.
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I want to work! An employment guide for people with sensory impairments (Word) (94kb)
A print-ready PDF version of the I want to work! An employment guide for people with sensory impairments report.
Get in touch
Get in touch to sign up as an eCampaigner and support our campaigns. We can also help you with your campaigning.
