Apprenticeships can be a great way to gain practical skills and experience in a particular industry. At the same time, you can earn a wage and work towards a recognised qualification. However, finding an apprenticeship for people with disabilities that not only meets their needs but also accommodates their disabilities can be challenging.
Apprenticeships are an excellent opportunity for everybody, no matter their background or ability. This includes people with visible and invisible disabilities. If you have a disability, you may need to take some extra steps to find and complete an apprenticeship. But don’t let that put you off.
You may have a parent, carer or friend who can help you find what kind of apprenticeship you would like. From there you can search for the right employers for you.
Depending on your disabilities or health condition, you will have different needs and requirements for your apprenticeship. For example, if you have a disability that affects your mobility, you may need to find a sector that doesn’t require any physical activity. Despite many of the stereotypes, not all apprenticeships are in physical roles, such as construction or engineering. You could do an apprenticeship in finance, marketing, recruitment, animal care, the list goes on.
In this blog, we will explore some of the ways that people with disabilities can find apprenticeships that work for them.
Your Rights as a Disabled Apprentice
We’ll begin by looking at your rights as a disabled apprentice. It’s important to remember that being employed as an apprentice is the same as being employed in a traditional job. Therefore, you are protected by all the same legal rights. Just like in a standard job, an employer is obliged to make reasonable adjustments. These are required so that a disabled person or someone with a long-term health condition is not disadvantaged at work or in the job application process.
This means that when searching for an apprenticeship, you should know that employers can adjust parts of the job to support your needs. So, you shouldn’t be put off from applying because of your disability. These include adjustments such as assistive technology, working hours, physical changes to the workplace, etc.
The Equality Act 2010 protects disabled people from all kinds of discrimination while at work. This applies to apprenticeships too. Discrimination includes being let go from your apprenticeship, being mistreated in the apprenticeship, or not being hired because of your disability. If any of this happens to you while you are doing an apprenticeship and you believe it is because of your disability, your employer could be breaking the law.
When you’re applying for a job, the employer can only ask about your disability if:
- it’s necessary to make the recruitment process more comfortable for you
- or if they need to adjust the role to accommodate your needs.
This is to make sure you have an equal opportunity to apply for the job. Of course, they also need to follow the laws and regulations about discrimination against people with disabilities.
For more detailed information on your rights, visit our sister site Careers with Disabilities.
How to Find Inclusive Apprenticeships
For many disabled people, an essential part of the apprenticeship is ensuring that the employer is inclusive and accepting. This way, you can ensure that your employer will be respectful and accommodating to your disability.
Here are some tips for finding an inclusive employer who offers apprenticeships for people with disabilities:
Speak to Employers Directly
Suppose you have found an employer who offers an apprenticeship you are interested in but are worried about your disability. In that case, you could reach out to them beforehand and ask about their policies for disabled apprentices. This would give you the chance to determine whether you would carry out the role and what adjustments they could make for you.
Access Resources for Disabled Jobseekers
There is a whole host of information and resources to help disabled people and employers understand disability and employment. Our sister website, Careers with Disabilities, has a whole range of information on employment rights, funding, and job applications, as well as a disability advice hub that gives detailed information on a range of disabilities.
Explore Forums and Groups for Advice from Applicants with Similar Experiences
LinkedIn is a great place to connect with employees and other disabled people searching for apprenticeships. You could message someone who works for a potential employer and see if they have information about apprenticeships. Although it can be daunting, reaching out to others and asking questions is a great way to determine whether an apprenticeship would suit your needs.
Research Their EDI policy
More and more businesses are expressing their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) commitments and goals on their website. This shows that they welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and abilities. EDI policy often expresses what they can do to make their company more inclusive to people with additional requirements.
Key Takeaways
In conclusion, apprenticeships can provide valuable opportunities for people with disabilities to gain skills, experience, and qualifications in their chosen field while being paid. However, it can be challenging to find an apprenticeship that accommodates your specific needs. So it’s crucial to know your rights as a disabled apprentice, and that employers are legally required to make reasonable adjustments to support you.
To find an inclusive apprenticeship for people with disabilities, visit the Employing an Apprentice jobs board for all the latest apprenticeship opportunities near you. If you would like to know more about apprenticeships before researching employers, you could use our apprenticeship standards search tool to browse over 500 apprenticeship standards.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team; we would be more than happy to help. And lastly, make sure you sign up for our newsletter below for all the latest from Employing an Apprentice.
