If we are serious about engaging with disabled students and bringing them into our organisations, we have to understand them and the best way to do this is to hear what they have to say. We need to hear their stories, their experiences, their concerns and their questions, and understand what will make the difference for them when it comes to recruitment, support and the workplace.
This Breakfast Seminar provided delegates with the opportunity to do just this as we were joined by students and recent graduates who talked from first-hand experience about their disability. They shared insights about how their disability affects them, how they manage it and the impact it has had on their studies, extra-curricular activities and their time at university. They also talked about how they feel regards applying for jobs, entering employment and requesting the support they require in order to realise their potential.
As we listened, we were also reminded of the abilities, skills and strengths that individuals often develop as they manage their disability on a day to day basis in a world that isn’t always geared up for it; skills that are a huge asset in the workplace.
As ever, our Breakfast Seminar was interactive and designed to encourage delegates to engage in conversations with students and graduates and to ask the questions that they normally wouldn’t have the opportunity to ask or feel comfortable in doing so.
Disability and student life
Helen Cooke, Director, My Plus, started the seminar by sharing some insights she has gained in this area.
First-hand experience
In small groups, individuals talked about their personal experiences of having a disability and the implications for themselves.
Discussion
Delegates discussed in more depth what they have heard and considered the implications on how they attract, recruit and support disabled students.
Feedback:
“ I liked the variety of speakers, stories and the opportunity to have more personal conversations (as opposed to panel speaking to whole room) ”
“ A good opportunity to talk about your experience with other recruiters ”
“ Many stories told today highlight the fact that so many people who are talented may be forgotten “
“ I gained an understanding of how to help disabled students in the future “
“ Everyone’s needs are unique and should be listened to “
“ I gained an insight into different people’s journeys and challenges, as well as what employers can and should be doing and why people made the decisions they did “
Speakers:
Jonathan Andrews
Jonathan is an associate at Reed Smith, in the firm’s Entertainment and Media team, and is a member of the firm’s disability network, LEADRS. He is also a trustee/non-executive director of the national charity Ambitious about Autism.
Jonathan applied to law firms, and secured a trainee positions, being open about being on the autistic spectrum, focusing on the strengths being on the spectrum can give as well as the strengths that learning to manage a disability can provide. He continues to speak at networking events to discuss the benefits of being open, and this year secured a newly qualified position.
Charlotte Earl
Charlotte is currently a GDL student at the University of Law and future trainee at Baker McKenzie. Since the age of 17 Charlotte has had repetitive strain injury in both forearms from being a waitress, pot washer and cleaner 6 days per week. This led to chronic pain after long periods of writing or typing. Pain also results from doing daily chores such as doing the washing and cleaning the home. With no treatment or cure provided by the NHS, it is essential that Charlotte and those she works with take preventative actions, otherwise her arms become so sore that she cannot have a good standard of living, let alone get on with the task at hand.
Charlotte has taught herself to use speech recognition and has been extremely fortunate to have scribe support through her A Levels, undergraduate degree in History and currently her GDL. It has been an uphill battle fighting for the support she needs but this is illustrative of her determination to ensure she has the best chance of reaching success.
When searching for a firm one of Charlotte’s main priorities was to find a company that promotes diversity and wants to support their disabled applicants and employees. Fortunately, a three-week vacation scheme demonstrated Baker & McKenzie were the ideal fit for this. However, Charlotte would like to ensure throughout her career that she can support other applicants facing similar difficulties. A large part of this is ensuring companies are ready to provide applicants with the reassurance that they are on their side, will listen intently to their needs and support them every step of the way.
Kaya Kwon
Kaya is a second year law student at King’s College London, where she is the Wellbeing Representative at KCL Diverse Lawyers, a society created to encourage inclusion and diversity in law.
Kaya has felt the impact of her mental health issues since childhood, but never really struggled with it until she went to uni. She was dismissed from her previous university due to low attendance caused by her depression and anxiety. While her academic career suffered from her mental health, her personal life suffered the most, as she had no wish to do anything at all—she was just empty. While the university knew about her condition, there was no support given, and she was just dismissed.
AT KCL, Kaya repeated year 1, and even her second attempt at year 1 was not the most successful. However, she believes this was a valuable experience as she’s learnt to better take care of herself, and is finally in a place where she can be of help to others who are in a similar position.
This led her to be very passionate about mental health issues and support for students. Kaya strongly believes that nobody should be deprived of education and opportunities due to their disability / mental health issues, and wants to work towards finding better ways to support students through their education and to make the recruitment process less terrifying.
Edward Reveley
Edward is a Senior Associate within the Restructuring, Refinancing and Insolvency team at PwC, joining their graduate scheme in 2017 after completing an Economics degree from the University of Bristol. Edward has completed a number of internships in the Sales & Trading and Investment Banking Division for Bulge-Bracket Investment Banks.
Edward is profoundly deaf from birth and a British Sign Language user. Edward has a team of qualified BSL interpreters to support him at work through the Government’s Access to Work scheme.
Rosie Watterson
Rosie is currently a Trainee Solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills, and has an upper-limb difference. While at university, she set up the Aspiring Solicitors society, which aimed to help students from underrepresented groups access the legal profession. Upon graduation, Rosie began writing an award-winning blog (www.applyshinewin.com) which provided advice to students on completing applications and attending training contract interviews.
Upon joining Herbert Smith Freehills, Rosie has been actively involved in the Ability Network, and has recently helped to organise a Moot for students on the topic of disability discrimination.
MyPlus would like to thank Baker McKenzie for generously hosting this Breakfast Seminar for us.
Breakfast Seminars are exclusively for members of the Recruiters’ Club. They are ideal for anyone wishing to build their understanding of different types of disabilities and the impact it can have on the individual in their studies, extra-curricular activities and the workplace.
Read more about the MyPlus Recruiters’ Club.
MyPlus run a variety of events for employers. For details of the different types visit our events page. For details of forthcoming Recruiters’ Club events taking place visit our events calendar page.
