Education & Employment
Anyone with a long term medical condition
may have to overcome difficulties with employment or education, especially so
if your condition is less visible.
For instance you may require more time off or adaptations for your specific needs or you may have suffered discrimination. In the UK there is stringent legislation to protect the disabled in both the employment and education environments.
This page contains links to outside bodies that may be able to advise or assist you in achieving your education or employment needs and goals.
Registering as disabled:
If you consider yourself disabled by your condition and have a doctor willing to support you, then you may wish to 'register as disabled' - this can be done in a number of ways i.e. by claiming disability living allowance a full list can be found at www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2571.aspx or by applying to be added to your local authority's 'disabled persons register' - you can check if your local authority holds this type of register by visiting their website.
You can also request a social services assessment if you need care assistance or specialised equipment by contacting your local council.
Registering as disabled may give you access to additional benefits, services and concessions and will not necessarily deter an employer.
Employment:
Employers are bound by the 'Equality Act 2010' and the 'UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities' - both of which state that employers are not allowed to discriminate due to a disability:
www.gov.uk/rights-disabled-person/employment
www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml
What counts as disability?
The law: www.hse.gov.uk/disability/law.htm
A definition: www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/your-rights/disability/
Work & Disability:
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Disability/Pages/Disabilityandwork.aspx
Access to work grant:
This can help employers to equip or adapt the work place to suit your needs www.gov.uk/access-to-work
Discrimination at work:
If you have been discriminated at work due to your disability ACAS may be able to advise & assist you www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx
Getting into employment:
Some people with long term medical conditions and disabilities can find it hard to gain employment most local authorities and Job Centre Plus have a variety of schemes to assist & advise - information is available at their local offices.
Education:
For some with long term medical conditions attending and completing courses can be daunting - however all education establishments are bound by legislation to assist those with disabilities and help them to achieve their goals see: www.gov.uk/rights-disabled-person/education-rights.
For those in compulsory education it may be advisable to seek the help of the special educational needs oifficer of the school or college and you may be advised to have the child statemented - this is merely an advisory document to access the childs needs and forms part of the educational action plan by which the establishment will be bound.
For those in further or higher education each establishment has a disabled persons advisor to help with advice and tailoring the programme to the persons needs.
However some may find continuing education in a mainstream enviroment too difficult, this does not mean that education has to cease just that alternative paths need to be found - the following links may be able to help you achieve this:
Open university - learn from home at your own pace: www.open.ac.uk/
Directory of specialist colleges for those with disabilities: www.natspec.org.uk/
National bureau for students with disabilities: www.skill.org.uk/
Financing a course:
Those with disabilities can apply for additional financial help to aid them in the completion of a course:
Disabled students allowance (DSA): www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas
Student finance: www.gov.uk/student-finance/overview
General information and advice:
D.I.A.L. www.scope.org.uk/dial
For instance you may require more time off or adaptations for your specific needs or you may have suffered discrimination. In the UK there is stringent legislation to protect the disabled in both the employment and education environments.
This page contains links to outside bodies that may be able to advise or assist you in achieving your education or employment needs and goals.
Registering as disabled:
If you consider yourself disabled by your condition and have a doctor willing to support you, then you may wish to 'register as disabled' - this can be done in a number of ways i.e. by claiming disability living allowance a full list can be found at www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2571.aspx or by applying to be added to your local authority's 'disabled persons register' - you can check if your local authority holds this type of register by visiting their website.
You can also request a social services assessment if you need care assistance or specialised equipment by contacting your local council.
Registering as disabled may give you access to additional benefits, services and concessions and will not necessarily deter an employer.
Employment:
Employers are bound by the 'Equality Act 2010' and the 'UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities' - both of which state that employers are not allowed to discriminate due to a disability:
www.gov.uk/rights-disabled-person/employment
www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml
What counts as disability?
The law: www.hse.gov.uk/disability/law.htm
A definition: www.equalityhumanrights.com/advice-and-guidance/your-rights/disability/
Work & Disability:
www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Disability/Pages/Disabilityandwork.aspx
Access to work grant:
This can help employers to equip or adapt the work place to suit your needs www.gov.uk/access-to-work
Discrimination at work:
If you have been discriminated at work due to your disability ACAS may be able to advise & assist you www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx
Getting into employment:
Some people with long term medical conditions and disabilities can find it hard to gain employment most local authorities and Job Centre Plus have a variety of schemes to assist & advise - information is available at their local offices.
Education:
For some with long term medical conditions attending and completing courses can be daunting - however all education establishments are bound by legislation to assist those with disabilities and help them to achieve their goals see: www.gov.uk/rights-disabled-person/education-rights.
For those in compulsory education it may be advisable to seek the help of the special educational needs oifficer of the school or college and you may be advised to have the child statemented - this is merely an advisory document to access the childs needs and forms part of the educational action plan by which the establishment will be bound.
For those in further or higher education each establishment has a disabled persons advisor to help with advice and tailoring the programme to the persons needs.
However some may find continuing education in a mainstream enviroment too difficult, this does not mean that education has to cease just that alternative paths need to be found - the following links may be able to help you achieve this:
Open university - learn from home at your own pace: www.open.ac.uk/
Directory of specialist colleges for those with disabilities: www.natspec.org.uk/
National bureau for students with disabilities: www.skill.org.uk/
Financing a course:
Those with disabilities can apply for additional financial help to aid them in the completion of a course:
Disabled students allowance (DSA): www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas
Student finance: www.gov.uk/student-finance/overview
General information and advice:
D.I.A.L. www.scope.org.uk/dial