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Tab Ahmad from EmployAbility interview on BBC Working Lunch: Disability and Employment




Tab Ahmad is the Managing of Director of EmployAbility which is an organisation dedicated to assisting people with all disabilities into employment. Tab, welcome. We saw there that John was at university when he lost his sight. What work programmes and schemes are available for young people who just want to get access to the employment ladder?

It's really difficult sometimes for people at university to be able to compete with non disabled peers, as they are seeking that first opportunity. At EmployAbility we work very closely with disabled students and graduates for that transition from education to employment. What that means is that we support them with their application forms, we support them in the recruitment process; sometimes that involves adjustments that we may need to help negotiate with the employer to get them through that process, to make it accessible and fair.

It begs the question, what rights do you have as a disabled employee, what should you be aware of?

As a disabled employee or indeed someone seeking work, if you have a disability you have the rights to have what are called reasonable adjustments to be made for you in the workplace, to enable you to negotiate the recruitment process. Now that may mean, for example for students and graduates, adjustment could be to online testing - either being able to get extra time or, sometimes, exemption from certain types of tests which may not enable you demonstrate you abilities adequately.

Do you think that employers are becoming more aware of this?

I think they are. I think it’s a slow process and if they were completely aware then EmployAbility wouldn't need to exist. So, for the time being, I think there is a need for us and organisations like us to educate employers to become more disability inclusive.

Tab, good to speak with you, thanks for the insight into what employers and workers need to know.

Thank you.