If you are inspired to join the occupational therapy profession the following information will be very useful.
Yes, you can do it! There are a great many people in the OT profession with disabilities. If you have a specific question about training to be an OT or starting work we hope the information below will be helpful. If you require more information please write into the discussion forum.
What help is available?
Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities has a very informative website with guidance for people with disabilities applying for higher education: http://www.skill.org.uk/info/infosheets.asp
Funding help is available through the Disabled Students Allowance. This can take the form of:
- Special Equipment Allowance: a one-off payment for large items such as personal computers, personal software, cassette recorders etc.
- Non-medical Helpers Allowance: an annual allowance to cover costs of practical help including signers, readers, note takers, and personal assistants.
- General allowance: an annual allowance for small items and consumables, which can also be used to supplement the other allowances.
(Information taken from: www.connexions-direct.com/section.cfm?sectionId=77&contentId=189)
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has the following site:
www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/
'Bridging the Gap: A guide to the Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) in higher education' is available from the DfES from this link:
www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/formsandguides/
More information about the Disabled Students Allowance from Connexions Direct:
www.connexions-direct.com
What help is available when I qualify and start work?
The Access to Work programme is a government funding scheme run by Jobcentre Plus. It provides financial assistance. It is available to unemployed, employed and self-employed people and can apply to any job, full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary.
- a communicator at a job interview if you are deaf, have a hearing impairment or have a communication difficulty
- a reader at work if you are blind or have a visual impairment
- a support worker if you need practical help because of your disability, either at work or getting to work
- adaptations to a vehicle, or help towards taxi fares or other transport costs if you cannot use public transport to get to work because of your disability
- equipment (or alterations to existing equipment) so it you are able to use it.
- alterations to premises or a working environment necessary to make the environment more accessible to you.
Funding available
The funding available depends on your employment status at the time of application. For:
- unemployed people starting a job and all self-employed people - the programme will pay up to 100% of all approved costs
- people changing jobs - the programme will pay up to 100% of all approved costs
- employed people who have been with the employer for six weeks or longer - Access to Work will not make any contribution to costs below £300. Above this sum, the programme will pay up to 80% of the costs up to £10,000 and up to 100% of the costs above £10,000
- travel to work - the programme will pay up to 100% of all approved costs irrespective of employment status
- communicator support at interview - the programme will pay up to 100% of all approved costs irrespective of employment status.
- a support worker - the programme will pay up to 100% of all approved costs irrespective of employment status. When you begin your second job Access to Work will only fund 80% towards your support worker and the remaining 20% has to be paid by the employer.
Access to Work funding is made available for up to three years. A review of your circumstances and support needs will take place if further funding is needed after this time.
Contact your local Disability Service Team (DST). They are usually in the phone book and are based in your local Job Centre. They will usually have a textphone. Or see the link below.
Contact them as soon as you know you are starting work because it can take a long time to set up. If you are already working, you can still get Access to Work, but your employer may have to pay something towards it.
More information about Access to Work
Your local area team can be found on the Job Centre Plus site:
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/Customers/HelpForDisabledPeople/AccesstoWork
Information on disclosing your disability to employers
The following information sheet from Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities has useful advice:
www.skill.org.uk/info/infosheets/emp_disclose.doc
Comments and questions
If you have any comments or questions about becoming an OT or feel you could provide helpful information or advice please use the discussion forum.
Jane Sibley
Occupational therapist and member of the working group, Forum for OTs with disabilities.
