Support for people with disabilities

There is a range of support available for people with a physical disability, medical condition, sensory impairment, general or specific learning difficulty or emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Careers - advice and guidance

Careers Advisers provide information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions about your future, which may include options in education, training and employment.

You can get support from a Careers Adviser at various stages, including when you are at school and anytime after you leave school.

At School

Towards the end of Year 12 at school you will have several options open to you, including:

staying on at school
going to a College of Further Education
joining the “Training for Success/ApprenticeshipsNI” Programme
getting a job

In school, your Careers Adviser will help you to explore these options in more detail and help you choose the most appropriate one for you.

Your Careers Adviser can also give you advice on finding work, applying for jobs, compiling CV and preparing for interviews.

Careers Advisers can also put you in touch with any specialist help you might need.

When you leave school

There is a range of support available to you when you leave school, depending on which option you choose:

College of Further Education - you may be entitled to additional learning support and specialist equipment
Training for Success/ApprenticeshipsNI Programme - you can enter training up to age 22 and you may be entitled to additional learning support
getting a job - There are a range of programmes you may be entitled to avail of
there are also a range of specialist agencies which provide support for people with disabilities to help access education, training and employment

Talk to your local Careers Adviser for more information about any of these options.

Disability Employment Service (DES)

Through its range of employment and pre-employment programmes the Disability Employment Service (DES) provides practical and financial help to assist people with disabilities to find and keep jobs and assist employers recruit and retain people with disabilities in employment.

These programmes include Access to Work (NI), Workable (NI), Job Introduction Scheme, Work Preparation Programme and Condition Management Programme.

The Disability Employment Service (DES) also has an Occupational Psychology Service with a team of Occupational Psychologists offering consultancy, advice and guidance in areas relating to work, disability and health.

All programmes and services can be accessed through Employment Advisers based in local Jobs and Benefits Offices and JobCentres.