Main objectives Working Smarter for Sustainability and Success

Main objectives: Working Smarter for Sustainability and Success High quality support for disabled students on a limited budget Customising a successful service Low cost ideas to consider Understanding of main sources of help – and encouragement to use it

Providing High Quality Support for Disabled Students on a limited budget Disability Task Group 15 September 2011

Online Provision for Disabled Students Question time! • Does your Service have a dedicated Careers Adviser focussing on disability issues • Does your Service have a dedicated section for disabled students? • To what extent has this information been customised?

Why customise? • Customising your information on disability sends your students a positive message that you CARE about disability issues • Simply linking to other resources can be viewed as simply a “tick box” exercise • A customised site allows you to tailor information to the particular needs of your students (e. g. particular disabilities) • Managing online resources for disabled graduates allows you as a careers professional to maintain up to date knowledge on relevant issues • Sensitive issues around disability e. g. Disclosure can be supported with no fear of awkwardness on either part

Examples of Disability-related Information: the easy bits! • Named Adviser (if one exists) supporting disabled students – including biog and image. Helps with engaging the student. • List of Disability Services on offer within the Careers Service e. g. access support, information formats available, employer info, psychometric testing support, any specific initiatives, partnerships • Links to other internal support e. g. Disability service

Disability-related Information – where work is needed! • Customised advice on common themes/issues affecting disabled students including: Ø Advice on Disclosure Ø Handling Discrimination Ø Identifying “disability friendly” employers – including info on any local initiatives Ø Work Experience schemes – particularly regional opportunities Ø Understanding the business case for hiring disabled graduates Ø Summary of most useful links Ø Making Applications

Making Applications • Good example of where customised information really shows! • Examples of Application questions/Cover Letters addressing disability positively • Links to information on support available to employers hiring people with disabilities e. g. Jobcentre plus

Other Useful Info – where customisation not necessary • Links to organisations supporting people with disabilities Ø Disability general e. g. the Disability Alliance, SKILL website Ø Disability specific – i. e. relating to a particular disability e. g. Blind in Business Ø Employer Organisations e. g. Employers Forum on Disability • Link to PDF of AGCAS sponsored graduate destinations report “What Happens Next”

What could all this look like? • The University of Westminster careers pages on disability • Initially developed in less than a week • Drew on existing resources at the time but personalised and contextualised • Added to over a period of time, particularly changing info on graduate destinations

What Happens Next • Annual report examining the destinations of graduates with disabilities • Based on current DLHE data • Funded by and written by members of the Disability Task Group • Compares destinations data of non-disabled graduates with both the “whole” of the disabled graduate population and specific categories of disabled graduates

The Report’s Impact • The report has provided for the first time solid information on disabled graduates’ fortunes in the job market • Demystified overly pessimistic perceptions of what a disabled graduate can achieve • Has provided insights into which types of disabled graduates might need extra support

Most Recent Report: Feb 2011 • • • Examined graduate destinations from 2009 The proportion of both disabled and non-disabled graduates entering employment in 2009 fell sharply although the decrease for disabled graduates overall was marginally less than for their non disabled peers. Unemployment levels went up for both groups although the increase was slightly greater for non disabled graduates, the opposite of last year. Nature of disability continues to affect leavers’ prospects Graduates with mental health difficulties and those who are wheelchair users, or have mobility difficulties exhibited the lowest levels of full-time employment and the highest levels of unemployment. The proportion of graduates entering “graduate level” employment dropped this year, with comparable figures for both disabled and non disabled graduates. There was little difference in the types of industries both sets of graduates entered There was similarity between disabled and non disabled graduates in terms of the occupations they entered, although this year saw marginally higher numbers of disabled graduates entering “management” level occupations A significantly higher number of disabled graduates chose self employment as an option than non disabled graduates.

Other low cost initiatives to consider • Disability Specific Workshops? • Integrating disability advice into generic workshops and online/paper information • Collaboration with disability organisations to offer bespoke support to groups of disabled graduates e. g. RNID, RNIB advice surgeries • Engaging employers on the diversity/disability agenda to visit campus • In-house produced video case studies of successful alumni with disabilities • Producing in-house disability packs drawing on online info and other useful sources e. g. AGCAS Disability Resource Pack

Brainstorm/Sharing • Any examples we can share of other low cost initiatives other services have tried or are planning?

Objectives of my section Role of AGCAS Disability Task Group Support from external organisations How we can help Case studies Professional services – using resources efficiently

Disability Task Group – who are we? 7 members (currently 2 vacancies) Meet 2 to 3 times annually Membership across AGCAS

Disability Task Group – what we do Disability Development Network (D D N) – available to all members; currently 179. Generally very quick response, access to wide range of expertise ‘What Happens Next? ’ report, annual, paper copy and www. agcas. org. uk Specialist support (e. g. CHESS forum, www. disability-cafe. com Training event – annual, all members, Specific themes, arranged through ACGAS Support for individual services and members Resource pack www. agcas. org. uk Liaison with agencies (e. g. Employ. Ability, Blind in Business) Promotion of disability agenda (e. g. Government ministers )

Disability Task Group – in summary Information and advice for colleagues Themed training (annual) Advocacy and representation Focus point for key issues Broking role Communicating role Research – where possible

Cost efficient external support Variety of forms of external support for individual services and their institutions Expert help Easy to access, usually free Wide range – most medical conditions catered for (especially most common) Good employer contacts www. employ-ability. org Some services do entail fees, however (. e. g. Dyslexia screening) May need to do a bit of investigating – multiple disabilities (increasing, 13. 7% unemployment 2009)

Other Useful Info – where customisation not necessary • Links to organisations supporting people with disabilities Ø Disability general e. g. the Disability Alliance, SKILL website Ø Disability specific – i. e. relating to a particular disability e. g. Blind in Business Ø Employer Organisations e. g. Employers Forum on Disability • Link to PDF of AGCAS sponsored graduate destinations report “What Happens Next”

Cost efficient external support – free or low cost Training and consultancy www. changingfaces. org. uk What do they provide? Information and advice www. stammering. org Internships and skills workshops – www. employ-ability. org. uk Buddy scheme, job application support www. blindinbusiness. co. uk Jobs/internships – www. diversitymilkround. com Advocacy www. scope. org. uk Cultural/community issues – www. bda. org. uk Guides for employers – www. bdadyslexia. org. uk

Case studies 4 typical clients (Mental Health, Asperger Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Dyslexia) Two questions: What are the key issues? What low cost external help could be available? Grateful acknowledgement: Andrew Stainton, University of Huddersfield

AGCAS Disability Task Group and external agencies - summary Advantages of working with professional communities Access to a wide range of professionals Specialised advice Quick Tailored Easy (and often free) – no resource implications for services But some services are charged for)

Thank you – any questions?