Tips for Advertising Disability-Friendly Jobs in 2023: A Guide for Employers

Are you an employer committed to cultivating diversity and inclusion within your workforce? Discover how advertising disability-friendly jobs can attract exceptional candidates who bring unique perspectives and skills to your organisation. 

The disability employment gap is at its widest since 2018. The employment rate in the UK is 56% higher in non-disabled people than in people with disabilities. 

In this comprehensive guide, we explore valuable tips for employers on creating job posts that resonate with people with disabilities. We’ll also show you how to promote inclusivity and strengthen your team’s dynamics.

So, let’s get straight to it.

The Advantages of Disability-Inclusive Employment

Embracing disability-inclusive employment practices can lead to a multitude of benefits for your organisation:

• Diverse Perspectives: People with disabilities bring unique insights and perspectives that contribute to innovative problem-solving and enhanced creativity within your team.
• Adaptability and Resilience: Many individuals with disabilities have developed strong adaptability skills and resilience, making them well-suited for a wide range of roles and challenges.
• Innovation and Accessibility: Hiring people with disabilities can drive innovation in your products, services, and workplace accessibility, expanding your market reach and enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Enhanced Company Culture: Studies show that a diverse and inclusive workforce promotes a positive company culture that attracts and retains top talent. This leads to increased job satisfaction, productivity, and financial performance.
• Compliance and Legal Requirements: Creating disability-friendly job advertisements ensures compliance with legal requirements and demonstrates your commitment to equal opportunities.

Tips for Advertising Disability-Friendly Jobs

Creating job advertisements that resonate with people with disabilities requires careful consideration of language, content, and messaging. Follow these key strategies to ensure your job posts promote inclusivity and attract a diverse pool of candidates:

1. Understand the Disability-Inclusive Job Market

Before launching your disability-inclusive recruitment campaign, it’s essential to gain a deep understanding of the current job market for individuals with disabilities. Research the unique challenges and opportunities that disabled people may face in their job search. Stay informed about emerging trends, accommodations, and support systems that can enhance their employment experience.

By staying up-to-date with the disability-inclusive landscape, you’ll be better equipped to create job advertisements that effectively engage and resonate with potential candidates.

2. Clear and Accessible Language

Using clear and accessible language when advertising disability-friendly jobs is crucial to ensuring that candidates with varying abilities can understand and engage with the content. Avoid using technical terms or industry-specific acronyms that might be unfamiliar to some candidates. Instead, opt for straightforward and easily comprehensible language that accurately conveys the job requirements and expectations.

Clarity in language helps individuals with disabilities better understand the role in question. It also showcases your commitment to providing an inclusive and welcoming work environment.

3. Highlight Accessibility and Accommodations

One of the key aspects of advertising disability-friendly jobs is highlighting the accessibility features and accommodations your organisation offers. Clearly outline how your workplace is equipped to support individuals with visible and non-visible disabilities, whether through workplace accommodations, assistive technologies, or flexible work arrangements.

By showcasing your organisation’s commitment to creating a barrier-free and accommodating work environment, you signal to candidates with disabilities that their needs will be respected and addressed.

4. Inclusive Language

Incorporate inclusive language throughout your job advertisement to ensure that people with disabilities feel valued and included. Avoid using terms or phrases that may perpetuate stereotypes, biases, or ableism. Instead, opt for language that reflects a respectful and inclusive tone.

For example, use person-first language (e.g., “person with a disability” instead of “disabled person”) and avoid making assumptions about candidates’ abilities or limitations. This approach helps create an open and welcoming atmosphere for candidates of all abilities.

Our Job Advert Inclusivity Screening service can help your business create inclusive, disability-friendly job adverts.

5. Diverse Representation

Include images, graphics, and content that reflect a diverse and inclusive workplace culture. For instance, visual representation of people with disabilities within your job advertisements can convey a powerful message of inclusivity. It’s vital that you demonstrate your commitment to diversity and encourage candidates with disabilities to envision themselves as valued members of your team.

6. Focus on Abilities

When describing the qualifications and requirements for the job, emphasise the skills, strengths, and abilities essential for success in the role. Shift the focus from potential limitations to the unique contributions and talents that candidates with disabilities can bring.

By highlighting the qualities that make candidates well-suited for the role, you create a positive and empowering narrative. As a result, it encourages individuals with disabilities to apply and contribute their skills.

7. Promote Employee Resource Groups

Highlight any employee resource groups (ERGs) or support networks dedicated to individuals with disabilities within your business. These groups provide a sense of community, networking opportunities, and valuable support for employees with disabilities. Indeed, mentioning these resources in your job advertisement demonstrates your commitment to cultivating an inclusive workplace where individuals from diverse backgrounds can connect and thrive.

Showcasing Your Commitment to Inclusivity

It’s also important to show your organisation’s dedication to inclusivity by showing what your organisation can offer its employees:

• Career Development Opportunities: Outline the various opportunities for career advancement, skill enhancement, and professional growth within your organisation.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Highlight flexible work arrangements, remote work options, and adaptable schedules that cater to diverse needs.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Showcase a range of comprehensive benefits that support employees’ well-being, such as healthcare, mental health resources, and wellness programmes.
• Supportive Environment: Describe the supportive and inclusive work environment that encourages collaboration, respect, and a sense of belonging.
• Accessibility Commitment: Communicate your organisation’s dedication to ongoing accessibility improvements, ensuring a fully inclusive workplace for everyone.

Advertise on Leading Disability-Inclusive Platforms

And finally, for maximum effect when advertising disability-friendly jobs, we recommend using market-leading platforms like Careers with Disabilities:

Access expert help and resources to create effective and inclusive job adverts. Get in touch to advertise your roles on our dedicated disability-friendly job board. This way, your business can reach a diverse pool of talented individuals with disabilities who are actively seeking meaningful employment opportunities. 

Our job advert inclusivity screening tests your ad against our “Inclusive Language Checklist” to remove potentially discriminatory language and ensure your job advertisements align with best practices for inclusivity.

Additionally, our talented team of writers work with you to create a company profile that documents your efforts as a disability-friendly employer.

For more information, email us at info@careerswithdisabilities.com or give us a call at 0345 872 4501. We’re excited to partner with you in creating a workplace where everyone’s abilities are celebrated and valued.