How to get a job if you're a young person with SEND

A guide to finding work that’s right for you if you are a young person with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including job coaches and employment support.

Employment support for young people with SEND

There are a number of organisations available to offer you advice and support if you are a young person with SEND looking for employment:

  • Job Centre Guide – how to get a job when you have a disability
  • Remploy – the UK's leading specialist employment service for people with disabilities
  • Jobs – Action On Disability – working with young people with learning difficulties and with employers
  • Access to Work – following an assessment, a range of support can be provided for you, including funding towards a support worker, equipment, training or funding towards getting to and from work
  • specialist employability support – GOV.UK – helping you get ready for employment or become self-employed
  • Mencap – the 'Employ Me' programme can help support people with a learning disability into paid work

Access to work grants

If you have a job interview and need support, for example a communicator, you may be able to apply for an Access to Work grant – GOV.UK

Questions about your health or disability

An employer isn’t normally allowed to ask you questions about your health or disability before they offer you a job.

They can only ask you about this for very limited reasons, for example to:

  • make ‘reasonable adjustments’ – for example if you need a large print version of a test
  • decide if you can do something that is an essential part of the job

If you’re treated unfairly when you apply for a job

If you think you’ve been treated unfairly, contact the Equality Advisory Support Service – GOV.UK.

You may also be able to make a claim to an employment tribunal – GOV.UK. You must contact them within 3 months of the discrimination happening.

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