Young people: Tools and Techniques
Employment
Reasonable Adjustments Passport
As a Disabled person, you have the right to request reasonable adjustments. This means your employers or education providers have a legal obligation to make adjustments that will support you to access your work and studies.
The National Education Union has created a reasonable adjustments passport which can be used as a template to write down all your needs and how you can be best supported.
The passport provides examples on how to fill it in to make it easier to communicate your adjustments.
Read about the Reasonable Adjustments Passport
Understanding Employment Contracts Guide
Understanding your employment contract is essential in ensuring you are being treated fairly, and Disability Rights UK provides a detailed guide to help you navigate through your contract.
This guide explains what should be included in a contract, such as working hours, pay, and terms of employment. It also highlights how to ensure reasonable adjustments are included and clarifies your rights as a Disabled employee under the Equality Act 2010.
Read the full Employment Contracts guide on the Disability Rights UK website.
Youth Employment Resources
If you're unsure about your next steps, Youth Employment UK offers free, inclusive support to help you feel more confident in finding the right post-16 option for you.
It offers career guides across different sectors, help with writing CVs, preparing for interviews, and understanding your rights at work.
They also have a Young Professional programme which includes short, free online courses you can complete at your own pace to boost your confidence, communication, and employability skills.
They also offer apprenticeship opportunities, training schemes, and real stories from other young people.
Browse Youth Employment's career's advice resources.
Scope’s Support to Work Service
Scope’s Support to Work service is a free online program designed to help Disabled job seekers find and apply for work. The service provides tailored advice, including CV and cover letter support, interview preparation, and help with job applications.
You’ll be matched with an employment adviser who will work with you for up to 12 weeks, offering guidance and resources to build your confidence and job-seeking skills.
This opportunity is open to Disabled people aged 16 and over who are actively looking for work in England or Wales.
Find out more and register for the Support to Work service on Scope's website.
Your Rights
Complaint letter templates
DR UK have written a variety of complaint letter templates to support you whilst raising a complaint.
These letter templates have examples of different scenarios where you may need to raise a complaint. This may be during your education, employment or out and about incidents where you may need to raise a complaint.
Including templates such as, making a complaint about discrimination, failure to meet reasonable adjustments or challenging equal pay.
These templates refer to the Equality Act 2010, which legally protects you against disability discrimination. They also provide you with examples of how to highlight the resolution you expect from raising the complaint.
Read and use DR UK's Complaint letter templates
Caprice Kwai's university discrimination complaint letter template
Caprice is a Disabled student studying at University, where she faced disability discrimination and her university failed to meet their legal obligations.
Caprice made a complaint to her university provider which resulted in support for her disability and changes in policies throughout her university.
As a result of Caprice's complaint, the University introduced the following policies:
Reasonable Adjustments for all Disabled students.
Staff training for disability awareness.
Disabled student’s handbook.
Caprice then wrote a complaint letter template based around the complaint she raised.
Read and use Caprice's discrimination complaint letter template on the Leonard Cheshire's website.
Disability Rights UK's Protest Guide
Disability Rights UK have partnered with Liberty, the Human Rights Organisation, to create a dedicated guide to help you safely and confidently engage in activism.
This guide covers key areas such as knowing your legal rights, ensuring accessibility at protests, and understanding the adjustments that organisers should provide to support Disabled participants.
The guide also explains how to prepare for a protest, including tips on managing personal care needs, planning transportation, and coordinating support. It also highlights practical safety advice, such as carrying essential items and having emergency contacts ready.
Most importantly, it provides you with important information to ensure you can participate in collective action while staying safe.
If you are from Scotland, you can follow the Scottish Activist Legal Project Protest Guide which provides similar information, following Scottish Laws.
Read Disability Rights UK's protest guide.
Education
Quizlet
Quizlet is a revision app where you can create your own flashcards, use premade flashcards, and be tested in a variety of ways to enhance your revision and learning.
Quizlet has a variety of modes to test your knowledge, meaning you can find one that best suits your learning style. Whether that's reading your flashcards, being asked questions about certain topics or talking to their AI Bot about your content, there is a mode for everyone.
Quizlet has a free and paid option - though it isn't necessary to upgrade to get the benefits of this app.
Writing your Personal Statement
Are you considering university and wondering how to apply as a Disabled person? UCAS offers a dedicated guide to help you navigate the application process while addressing your individual needs.
This guide covers everything from sharing your disability to understanding the adjustments universities can provide.
It explains how sharing your disability on your application does not impact admissions decisions but instead ensures the university can plan reasonable adjustments, like accessible accommodation or tailored learning support.
It also provides advice on how to prepare for discussions with university disability advisers and explore funding options, such as the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).
UCAS also has a Personal Statement Guide, offering tips to help create a strong application that highlights your ambitions and strengths.
AccessAble University Resources
AccessAble is a website that provides detailed accessibility guides for places across the UK, including universities.
They also offer helpful advice for Disabled students starting university. Their "5 Tips for Disabled Students Starting University" article includes practical tips such as creating a university checklist, arranging an early move-in, and using disability support services.
Check out their full guide for more useful advice: AccessAble’s University Tips.
Disabled at Uni Resources
Disabled at Uni is a website created by and for Disabled students, offering practical resources and advice for navigating university life.
Their Help Sheets cover key topics such as accessing disability support, managing workload, and self-advocacy.
Explore Disabled at Uni Help Sheets on their website.
Wellbeing & Life
National Survivor User Network (NSUN)
Navigating mental health challenges can feel isolating, especially whilst we face ongoing issues like proposed benefits cuts and the Assisted Dying Bill.
Peer support offers a space to connect with others who may understand your experiences. The National Survivor User Network (NSUN) provides resources on peer support, sharing various organisations that host peer support groups.
Boing Boing - Resilience research and practice
The Resilient Minds Toolkit (ReMiT) is a co-produced resource created by young people and parents/carers to support mental health and resilience.
It offers practical guidance tailored to youth experiences, focusing on building coping strategies and emotional wellbeing.
If you are from Blackpool, Flyde or Wyde, Boing Boing have additional resources specific to your area.
Read the Resilient Minds Toolkit
CripLife's 'Saving Money as a Disabled person' Guide
We know that Disabled people shouldn’t have to “just budget better” - the real issue is the injustice of extra costs and inadequate financial support.
Disability Rights UK and various other DPO's and organisations continue to fight against unfair policies every day. The recent Benefits Cuts are no different.
However, if you're looking for practical ways to reduce expenses, this guide from Crip Life UK offers advice on benefits, discounts, and cost saving tips that might help.