Recommendations for employers

• Don't make assumptions about the abilities of disabled employees.
• Provide disability equality training for managers and staff.
• Ensure you have, and enforce, a policy of non-discrimination for disabled applicants and employees.
• Get an access audit of your premises done and make any alterations you can make now. Ensure that any new premises you buy, use or rent are accessible to disabled people and that all new build and refurbishment projects should be designed so they include everyone.
• Make sure everyone responsible for recruitment knows about the Access to Work scheme and how to access it.
• Make sure all your vacancies are advertised where disabled applicants will see them.
• Consider operating a guaranteed interview scheme where any disabled person meeting the essential criteria for a post is short-listed.
• Tell your local MP or council if there are barriers such as local transport or planning regulations that are creating barriers to you employing disabled people. If you are unsure about any aspect of reaching, employing or retaining disabled employees contact the relevant organisation for advice (see Useful Contacts).
• Establish a forum for business in your local area to discuss how to remove barriers and promote good practice around employing disabled people.

To read the full recommendations, order our report now.

You can also find out more about:

• how your company can work with us
• the business case for employing more disabled people
• Scope's employment services
• Scope's training services
• Current vacancies at Scope