Support for Students and Graduates with Disabilities - Overview
An overview
Locating professional employment can sometimes be a frustrating and time-consuming process for graduates. However, the job search process can be twice as difficult for those students who have a disability. Research conducted in Western Australia investigated the job finding and employment experiences of graduates with disabilities (Hynes, Syme, Lawn, Jones, Brown & Edwards, 1996). Below is a summary of the study's findings:
On the positive side it was found that:
many large organisations from both the government and private sectors are developing policies and systems to target and accommodate employees with disabilities;
once employed, graduates receive similar salary and conditions to their peers;
graduates with disabilities are more likely to work part-time, be self employed, be employed in work related to their qualifications, and are more likely to pursue further studies or training on completion of their degree;
most graduates do not experience barriers once they have secured employment, but those who do experience difficulties cite inflexible work routines as the most common barrier.
On the negative side it was found that:
graduates with disabilities do, at times, encounter discrimination in the process of finding and applying for employment because of their disabilities;
graduates with disabilities can take longer to find employment;
graduates whose disability is visible can experience increased difficulty in securing employment;
negative employer attitudes were the most common barrier facing graduates;
fewer graduates with disabilities than graduates without disabilities work during their final years of study, although many identified benefits in work experience.
Be mindful that these findings are general and may not relate to your situation. The main point is to be aware of these important issues and to be pro-active in addressing those points that will be important to you.
