There are 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability – 870,000 of those are of working age.
Learning Disability Week runs from June 17-23, with ‘Do You See Me?’ the theme of this year’s mencap-backed awareness event.
The aim of the week is to ensure people with learning disabilities are seen and heard – not least in the workplace.
From confidence building to offering mentorship, there are a number of ways that employers can provide support while empowering staff with learning disabilities in the office, factory or other setting.
We can help advise employers about how they can hire the right candidate for the right role, and create an inclusive and nurturing working environment.
Managing Director, Nel Woolcott, says: “We realise how crucial it is to enable and empower those with a learning disability to contribute productively to their workplaces.
“We can work effectively with employers to ensure their job adverts are worded correctly, and with candidates to assist with their CVs, filling in applications, identifying their skills and goals, writing cover letters and advising on interview techniques.
“With such a large number of the UK workforce being identified as having learning disabilities, Learning Disability Week is the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate neurodiversity and other challenges faced by so many either looking for a job or in current employment.”
We have some top tips to offer employers when it comes to supporting staff with learning disabilities:
Ensure that tasks are simplified by providing clear and repeated work instructions, both orally and in writing.
Provide clear guidance as to workplace expectations, again in writing or in a prominent place where they can be easily seen.
Offer some kind of mentoring – ideally with a member of the existing team who can work alongside the employee and provide ongoing support; helping to build confidence, provide on-the-job learning and progression, and deliver positive feedback.
Nel added: “Accurately representing people with learning or any kind of disability in the workplace eliminates stigmas and myths which can be prevalent when it comes to discrimination in hiring.”
According to figures by mencap:
5.1% of adults with a learning disability known to their local authority in England are in paid work (NHS Digital, 2021).
The proportion of adults with a learning disability in paid employment varies by region with London (7%) and the South East (6.9%) having the highest proportion of adults with a learning disability known to their local authority in paid employment.
In England, a higher proportion of men with a learning disability known to their local authority (6.2%) are in paid employment than women with a learning disability known to their local authority (4.8%; NHS Digital 2020).
There are approximately 870,000 adults of working age (18-64) with a learning disability in the UK.
To find out more about Learning Disability Week visit Learning Disability Week 2024 | Mencap