Keen to facilitate the sharing of good practice in the support offered to disabled students and graduates, in April the AGCAS Disability Task Group delivered a training day as part of the AGCAS NW Regional Training Programme. The day included advice on topics such as finding work placements, researching an employer’s attitude towards disability, disclosure, positive self-marketing, signposting to disability related resources, as well as the opportunity for useful discussion between participants and the presenters.
During the afternoon a panel of external speakers provided an insight into reasonable adjustments during the selection process and within the workplace, illustrated through a number of case studies. The panel included Theresa Lewin, the HR Manager for Liverpool Hope University, Catherine Leggett an Employment Consultant with the National Autistic Society and Peter Brooke, a Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant with Remploy. There was a lively Q and A session after their individual inputs, in which they fielded a diverse range of questions. The day ended with signposting to a range of resources geared to supporting work with disabled students, including a number developed by the Task Group and a brief insight into a recent survey conducted by staff at the University of Sheffield into students use of the Careers Service and ways in which its support could be best tailored to their needs.
If you were unable to attend this event and would like a copy of the slides from the day, do feel free to email me h.whorrall@sheffield.ac.uk
Hilary Whorrall, Disability Task Group.
AGCAS Disability Task Group Blog 