Work experience
The importance of work experience for higher education students is increasingly recognised. The opportunity to develop key employability skills, industrial and occupational awareness, confidence and networking skills is extremely valuable and complements academic studies.
Work experience and placements take many forms. Various types of support may be required and different support staff involved. Students seeking placements, voluntary work and work shadowing commonly use the institutional Careers Service for information and advice. Placements offered as part of a degree programme are usually coordinated by a placement officer.
disabled students
For most disabled students, work experience will be enjoyable and valuable. For others, it may cause anxiety and stress. Such students need an employer who provides a suitably stimulating environment and appropriate support and encouragement.
disabled students may not have experienced the world of work to the same extent as their non-disabled peers. They may have attended certain schools for children with special educational needs which do not offer work experience. They may have been unavailable because of medical reasons. Study and good academic performance may have been the main objective at the expense of work-related experience. Past negative experiences of attempting to secure work experience may have had an adverse effect.
Empowering and educating
A history of negative perceptions concerning a disabled student's potential and capabilities may understandably impact on individual confidence and self- esteem. Society is often unable to see beyond a disability to discover what the individual can offer an employer. Work experience therefore clearly has a valuable role to play. Students can gain career focus by improving their understanding of a particular job or industry. They can apply learning and develop skills in a vocational setting. They can also show a potential employer that they, a disabled student, can work effectively.
Preparation is key
There is, however, potential for the experience to be negative. All effort needs to be applied to ensure this is not the case. Appropriate preparation and collaboration between students, academics/ placement officers and employers/ opportunity providers, throughout every stage of the placement, is the key to success.
Code of Good Practice
To view the National Centre for Work Experience Code of Good Practice and to see a definition of quality work experience, visit the academics' section of www.work-experience.org
Disabled people, Work and Poverty - The Report, December 2003
In this TUC report, the TUC takes a look at the links between disability, worklessness and poverty, and discusses how public policy should respond. The report contains key recommendations. See www.tuc.org.uk/welfare/tuc-7447-f0.cfm.
