Applying with a disability
A person’s experience of disability and how it may influence their career is unique to them.
Whatever your situation may be, we can help you with identifying and applying for suitable career options, finding work experience as well as other career-related questions you may.
An overview
The information below provides an overview of the Equality Act 2010, whether you should share your disability with an employer and the support you can ask for.
In more depth
For more detailed information, we have created an online resource to help you navigate career choices, applications and starting work if you have a disability or long-term health condition. It also contains case studies from graduates and examples of reasonable adjustments for a range of conditions.
Go to our Disability and Accessibility in Careers online course (NOOC)
Reframe negatives into positives. You have a lot to offer. You can think outside the box and that’s a great thing! Ask yourself “How can I add value?” Be solution-focused.
Am I considered to have a disability?
The Equality Act 2010 was established to protect individuals in relation to specific characteristics such as age, race, pregnancy, sexual orientation, etc and this includes disabilities.
Under the Equality Act you are considered to have a disability if:
- You have a condition that has a substantial effect on your life and makes daily activities more difficult for you. For example, a physical disability or health condition such as diabetes, visual impairment, heart conditions and so on. It could also relate to a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, bipolar or a learning difference or neurodiversity such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and so on.
- Your condition or disability has lasted or is expected to last longer than 12 months or is likely to recur. For example, ill mental health that has improved recently.
The main thing to remember is that the Equality Act focuses on how the disability or condition affects you, rather than your diagnosis (if you have one).
Even if you don’t consider yourself to be disabled or don’t have a formal diagnosis and you require support in the workplace, you may still be protected by the Equality Act. This means employers have an obligation to provide support and adjustments for you. Examples of this may be:
- A sleep disorder which impacts on your sleeping pattern. This could cause fatigue, loss of concentration, impaired decision making abilities, reduced productivity.
- Chronic migraines. You might experience intense pain, “brain fog”, sensitivity to light, or disorientation, all of which will impact on your ability to complete tasks effectively.
Find out more
Go to the Am I considered to have a disability? section of our online course
Do I have to tell an employer?
It is entirely up to you if you want to tell an employer about a disability(s) and if so, how much information you want to share.
When deciding whether to talk about your disability or not, consider what the benefit of doing so will be. For example, it helps give context if you don't meet the required academic standard because your disability affected your exams or can explain a gap in your education history. If there is no advantage to mentioning your disability, then you simply don't have to.
Typically, people mention their disability(s) to ask for adjustments in the recruitment process or when they start work.
You can disclose on your CV, in your job application, in an interview, or once you start (to your manager). However, if you can, try and use the application form especially if it includes an equal opportunities form. HR will then contact you to ask how they can best support you.
Find out more
- Learn more about types of adjustments available and how to ask for adjustments in the recruitment process on our online course
- Sometimes people find it difficult to ask for adjustments because they worry about being negatively judged or subtly discriminated against by an employer. However, this should not lead to negative judgment from ethical and inclusive employers. Find out how you can explore whether an employer is the right fit for you
Go to the Applying for jobs section of our online course
Read our blog on How to find out if an employer is genuinely inclusive
What support can I ask for?
If you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010, you can ask for what are legally known as “reasonable adjustments” to help you carry out your work effectively. It’s important to remember, you don’t necessarily have to have a specific diagnosis or be receiving disability benefits to be eligible for adjustments.
Adjustments can be made during the application and interview process so that you are not disadvantaged and have an equal opportunity to show your best self to prospective employers as other candidates. Examples include, getting the interview questions ahead of time, extra time for assessments, or a different format of interview.
When starting work you may require adjustments such as an adapted chair or desk, specialist computer programmes and noise cancelling headphones. Adjustments do not have to just be for specialist equipment and can include, hybrid working arrangements, flexible working hours, increased frequency of breaks and many more.
Find out more
Go to the Interviews, assessment centres and psychometrics tests section of our online course
Go to the Starting work section of our online course
Understanding Neurodiversity - Insights from Nottingham University Hospitals
If you identify as neurodivergent or have an interest in neurodiversity in the workplace, this webinar explores neurodiversity with Nottingham University Hospitals' Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and staff working within the hospitals.
Speakers:
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- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar
Conversation With... Katherine Linehan, PVC for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and People
In conversation with careers adviser, Christian Jameson-Warren, Katherine Linehan, talks about:
- the skills developed from having a disability
- how to control the narrative - don’t let people define you
- how to talk about your disability to prospective employers
- how to manage situations in the workplace
- what to do if you don’t feel supported in a future workplace
- initiatives at the university to support disabled staff and students
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- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar
What do I need to do when starting a new job?
Before you start employment, an employer will often ask you to complete a health questionnaire. The employer cannot withdraw or change the job offer based on this information, although there are some exceptions - find out more on the Government Equalities Office document 
. The purpose of this questionnaire is to enable you to get any support you need to do well in the workplace.
Under the Equality Act 2010 employers have a duty to make adjustments to enable you to do your job well.
Examples of this can include:
- Physical adaptations, such as adapted equipment (chairs, keyboards, voice recognition software) and changes to work environment, such as lowering desks, adjusting lighting, modifying entrances.
- If a disability impacts your social interaction and communication, asking for an office mentor – maybe line manager, colleague, buddy arrangement. Someone who can help you build awareness of how you communicate and any other issues with social cues.
- Flexible working hours to accommodate regular medical appointments.
Any information you share will not be shared with others unless you want it to be. Depending on your answers, you may be invited to have a conversation with an occupational health specialist. The purpose of this meeting is again to identify what support would be most suitable for you. In some circumstances they may ask for a copy of your doctor’s records, but cannot request them without your consent.
Employers should cover the costs of any adjustments. The Access to Work grant is a source of funding to help with this. Please note it may take several weeks for an application to be processed, so you may want to talk about it as early as possible after receiving a job offer. Access to Work is available for any paid work, including fixed-term work such as internships and placements, although doesn’t apply for voluntary non-paid work.
Find out more
Go to the Starting work section of our online course
Find out more about Access to Work
Where can I find additional support and information for specific disabilities?
Additional support
- Citizen's Advice - Asking an employer for changes if you are disabled
- GOV.UK - Work and disabled people
- GOV.UK - Applying for communication support at a job interview
- Personnel Today - 12 common reasonable adjustments in recruitment
- Scope - Reasonable adjustments at work
Specific disabilities