The University of Bristol is proud to be a Next Generation Inclusive University in partnership with disability organisation EmployAbility – together we strive to put disability inclusion at the heart of what we do.
EmployAbility supports disabled and neurodivergent students looking for employment or internships, both during their studies and after they graduate. They support them to get reasonable adjustments in place, to enable them to perform at their best at all stages of the recruitment process, and in the workplace.
We’re here to tell you a little bit more about the services EmployAbility offers and how they can support you.
1. One-to-one appointments to discuss your questions and needs
If you think you could benefit from talking to one of EmployAbility’s expert advisors, you can book a one-to-one session at a time convenient to you. In these fifteen-minute meetings, you can ask questions about:
- Disclosing at application, assessment centre, interview or job offer stage.
- Reasonable adjustments employers can make, and what might be useful for you.
- Your rights under the Equality Act 2010.
EmployAbility’s advice is impartial to help you make the best decision for you and your needs.
To arrange an appointment you can either book via mycareer, or, if none of the times listed work for you, contact EmployAbility directly by registering with them on their website and then emailing them with your availability at info@employ-ability.org.uk.
Appointments are usually by phone, but you can request another mode if that would work better for you.
Top Tip: If you’re contacting EmployAbility directly, let them know that you’re a University of Bristol student to access their full suite of support.
2. Personal advocacy
Another service that EmployAbility offers is to advocate and speak to employers about your adjustment needs on your behalf so that you have one less thing to worry about during the application process. EmployAbility will liaise with employers directly, discuss your needs, and ensure any adjustments you require are made in good time. Zak, a Bristol student who used EmployAbility’s services said:
“During my application process at a law firm […] EmployAbility had corresponded with Graduate Recruitment many times to ensure that all my needs were met.”
They’re also there for you throughout the application process, as Zak goes on to say:
“During what can be an extremely stressful period, it was a great relief knowing that if I needed any support, the team at EmployAbility was just a phone call away”.
3. Opportunities and events
EmployAbility also provides several events and opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent students. For instance, they run schemes in collaboration with top employers such as Google, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and the Financial Conduct Authority.
As a University of Bristol student, you can access both general events hosted by EmployAbility (which you can find on their website), as well as University of Bristol exclusive events which you can view on mycareer.
You can check out other support available to disabled and neurodivergent students by exploring our pathway on mycareer.
View our Adjustments in recruitment and the workplace: your rights video with EmployAbility.
If you have any questions about the support that the Careers Service and EmployAbility can offer you, speak to us on live chat, or pop into 5 Tyndall Avenue during opening hours.