COVID-19 We are still open for you, please see the section below on Accessing our services
Graduation to Employment course for autistic students, spring term 2021: Graduation to Employment 2021 (PDF , 4,020kb)
We are here to support you during your time at York with your career planning and skills development. We offer:
Find out more about appointments and how to book a time to talk to us. You can also use our e-guidance service by sending a query to the Careers Information Team in Handshake.
We also have:
Find out more about what we offer.
Find out more about disability support at the University of York.
Careers and Placements is located in a single storey building near the centre of Campus West, next to the central car park, with an accessible main entrance. We aim to ensure that all students have access to the resources, services and events on offer.
Where appropriate, you are welcome to invite your support worker to a careers appointment, and can contact us in advance to book a time to suit everyone.
If you need any adjustments to help you access our services, please contact us.
COVID-19
We remain open but are working remotely. You can still book appointments, and these will be delivered via Zoom; you will receive the link in your appointment confirmation. If you would like to include another person in the meeting, or prefer an alternative way of holding the appointment, please contact us at careers@york.ac.uk to arrange this.
You can also send questions in via Handshake. Our Careers issues during Covid-19 page is updated regularly - if you have a question you would like us to include on that page, please let us know.
Employers with a positive attitude to disability can be identified from their recruitment information and/or they may use the disability confident logo or ‘two ticks’ symbol, guaranteeing an interview to all candidates with disabilities who fulfil the minimum job requirements. Also look for a company’s equal opportunities policy, and employee support networks. The GOV.UK website has a list of disability confident employers, and the Business Disability Forum lists member organisations.
The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate because of a 'protected characteristic', one of which is disability.
Disability is defined as "a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities". The definition is broad and covers a wide range of long-term conditions, see the advice from Disability Rights UK.
The Act covers the areas of recruitment, including applications, tests and interviews, employment, including terms and conditions, training and promotion, and issues such as redundancy, dismissal and grievances.
Employers must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ which may include adjustments to the recruitment process, adjusting working hours or providing equipment to enable an employee with disabilities to do the job. See the GOV.UK website for more information, including the Access to work scheme. Reasonable adjustments should also be made to the recruitment process if required, see MyPlus Students Club information on Requesting Adjustments.
Some organisations run insight events and placements - these tend to be in areas such as the Civil Service, law and finance.
Civil Service: Early Diversity Programme (one week, Easter), Summer Diversity Internship Programme (two months) - apply for these schemes early autumn for the following year.
Commercial law: Explore the Law - Insight event for people with a disability or long term health condition considering a career in commercial law (next event 3 December 2020).
Lawyers with Disabilities Division offers a work experience placement (apply by end April for a one- or two-week summer work placement), and a 10 week internship with the British Council
Investment banking: Investing in Talent aims to give undergraduates with disabilities and long term health conditions an insight into investment banking careers (next event 21 October 2020).
BBC Extend Hub: new talent recruitment portal for all applicants with a declared disability. Other TV companies, such as Channel 4 and GMTV also offer work placement and employment opportunities.
EmployAbility works with organisations to offer work experience and graduate jobs to candidates with disabilities; check vacancies advertised through Handshake.
Change100 offer summer internships with leading employers (also advertised in Handshake); apply September to January for the following summer, see their webinar for more information (note this is from 2016).
There is no obligation to tell an employer about your disability - whether and how to do this is your decision, but you will need to do so if you want the employer to make reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process or when you are at work. You may want to think about the pros and cons and implications:
When you apply for jobs, you will need to evidence your skills. In addition to skills gained from your course and any other activities, you may have developed particular skills in managing your disability, for example:
(AGCAS Disability Task Group, Jan 2012)
Agcas blog for students and graduates with disabilities
Disability Horizons: A 21st century view of disability has an employment section, (as well as blogs, articles and personal stories).
MyPlus Students Club stories and blogs
Life of Pippa blog: Tips for job hunting as a disabled graduate
Focussing on strengths and working with dyslexia - blog by Sam Shires, Management consultant with Accenture.
Contact us
Careers and Placements
Mon-Fri 10am-5pm (Undergraduate term time)
Telephone: 01904 322685
Email: message the Careers Information Team via HandshakeView our other social media