Is there any support for disabled seeking work?

Blackpool_Saver

not shown up, I hope they stop his wage like they would stop the benefits

daveandjadea

wantsajob wrote: »

I personally feel I could never get a job without my disability being recognised and accepted, because people are too focussed on NT skills like interpersonal skills, customer service, and teamwork - even if the job itself does not require them to a big extent (cleaning work, admin work, data entry etc). Therefore I usually mention it whenever I apply for jobs, in the hope of some positive discrimination.

Once I made two applications for different jobs at Tesco. The one on which I stated I had Asperger's there was no interview. The one with no mention got an interview and was under the impression they were interviewing nearly all who applied. I've also had some instances were I've requested a guaranteed interview under scheme for disabled people, only for it to appear they have a preferred internal candidate already and are interviewing merely for the sake of it. So it seems to cause issues on both sides.

I know what you mean about positive discrimination, it sounds horrible but frankly employers attitudes mean you do have to rely on that. I'm unconvinced with the guaranteed interview scheme too, no one can tell me whether I should or shouldn't use this - you'd think surely employers have to hire disabled people just to fill a quota, so those of us who are high-functioning may stand a chance, but still no go it seems.

Emmzi

there are no quotas for marginalised groups under UK law. You can choose to run campaigns to attract applicants from under represented groups but that's about your lot.

I'm disabled and I'd be horrified if I pushed out a marginally better candidiate in orer to fill a quote. I want it on my own merits.

daveandjadea

skater_kat - I wish they'd just sign me in.

They cause problems every fortnight, ranging from ignorance to outright prejudice, and that's before all the usual job centre incompetence.

I've tried asd-forum.org.uk (they were a bit abusive), Wrong Planet and NAS's forum, not Aspies for Freedom yet...so I shall try, maybe they will be my goldilocks forum

I've tried NAS in the past with no luck.
I can always try again though, see what they say - I know they work with Remploy who I've just left and who were no help, so hopefully NAS have more schemes set-up. I think there is also the problem that anything via NAS may be too AS/ASD-centred, things like teaching interview technique - I ironically have twice worked for companies who help others into work, so I've got things like CV writing and interview technique down. I think my needs would be best met by a more general service, that could help me find volunteer placements for example.

Sorry if I'm sounding whiny, defeatist and dismissive - I don't mean to.

Emmzi

daveandjadea wrote: »

I ironically have twice worked for companies who help others into work, so I've got things like CV writing and interview technique down.

This is going to sound harsh, but honestly, if that were true you would be getting more interviews. Either that or you aren't sending enough applications. I don't know what your hit rate is like but for jobs I am 75% confident I can do it's about

30 applications = 3 interviews = maybe 1 job

It's either your hit rate due to cv failings, or number of attempts. Are you tailoring your cv for every application?

wantsajob

Emmzi wrote: »

I'm disabled and I'd be horrified if I pushed out a marginally better candidiate in orer to fill a quote. I want it on my own merits.

Problem here is Asperger's affects social interaction. Most employers like to determine how well people would do a job by means of social interaction (interview). So someone with Aspergers is at a disadvantage in being able to compete against people who may be less able at the job than they are, and merely coming across as nervous and shy etc is a reason for employers to put crosses in the boxes.

Emmzi

Sort of agree but OP is giving mixed messages. They also say they "pass" for NT and also don't need interview help as they have worked for a company that provides that.

So I don't really understand what they are looking for, if that makes sense.

daveandjadea

Emmzi wrote: »

This is going to sound harsh, but honestly, if that were true you would be getting more interviews. Either that or you aren't sending enough applications. I don't know what your hit rate is like but for jobs I am 75% confident I can do it's about

30 applications = 3 interviews = maybe 1 job

It's either your hit rate due to cv failings, or number of attempts. Are you tailoring your cv for every application?

The one obvious problem - what jobs can I apply for?
I can only apply for jobs that are available and suitable.

Right now I'm being forced to apply for shop work;
1. There are few such jobs.
2. There are even fewer shop jobs that offer 35+ hours.
3. Such jobs get thousands of applicants.
4. I have no experience in such roles.
5. Generally unsuitable work for AS/ASD individuals.

During interviews you have to show you're personable and can work as part of a team for a start. Then add to this inability to do role-play exercises, lack of eye contact, nervousness, honesty, and during application process employers are looking for you to tick boxes so we may miss-out on buzzwords, not be able to know the answers they're looking for, may think too complex so miss simple questions, and often interviewers can't recognise anything other than 'we want x, y, and z'.

Even before the interview stage how you come across in your CV or in applications can fail, particularly as most application forms and interview processes focus not on ability but on how many ticks you get - you have to know what they're looking for and keep things simple.

And, how would I get interviews?
I can't answer the phone if someone phones to arrange an interview, I can't do phone interviews, if an employer texts or emails me they usually still want me to phone them to arrange an interview. In such situations it's hard to know how to move forward, telling an employer that you can't phone due to disability instantly leads to problems, I also suspect the very fact I ask employers to text or email either raises alarm bells for them or is too much effort.

I do tailor my CV to roles I apply for, but then that only goes so far, and lets assume that I do need help with my CV...that still means I need support, and it would need to be support that could help me (e.g. disability or AS/ASD specific support).

wantsajob

Using the phone has some advantages for Aspies. You're not relying on understanding facial expressions or gestures, and don't have to make eye contact. Your only obstacle is tone of voice, but in arranging an interview this usually does not come into it. I admit that although I am generally Ok using the phone, I don't particularly enjoy it, so I can understand where your anxiety comes from. I find it helps if I almost try to script what I want to say, and anticipate their response, and my response to that. So for arranging an interview it might be....

ring ring

them - Good morning, this is (company name), how may I help you?
me - Hello, my name is Mr Wantsajob, I received a letter this morning offering an interview for the position of .... , and I have called to arrange a time. (note that this sentence is not dependent on the greeting offered by them whatsoever and is suitable for almost any greeting given. The only circumstance under which you might not use it is if it is apparent you called the incorrect number.)
them - (either likely to transfer you to someone else, or if they deal with it to begin suggesting a date or ask when is a good date/time)
me - (either accept time offered or suggest an alternate date/time depending on your other appointments)
them - (confirming interview date)
then goodbye etc, hanging up, breathing a sigh of relief that the call went Ok.

My DEA recently mentioned something called the Work Programme. This is the website on the leaflet I was given http://rehabjobfit.com/jobseekers/index.html She stated that it lasts 2 years and can no longer see anyone at the Jobcentre if I am on the scheme. I guess what's available in your area may differ. I suspect the scheme is a damp squib (to use David Cameron's description of the recent strikes) and likely to be a pile of crap like Remploy were.

skater_kat

also remploy have been awarded the contract to give 'mental health support' (which will include asd, even though we all know its not mental health) via access to work.

you can apply to access to work for interview support. may be worth putting in an application and seeing what happens.