Disability History Month aims to celebrate past and present achievements and promote the importance of equal rights for differently abled people in the UK. This year’s theme highlights livelihoods and employment and highlights the challenges disabled people face in the workplace, including discrimination, accessibility issues, and the urgent need for supportive work environments.

Disabled people encounter numerous challenges and barriers throughout life that others may never face, making it difficult for many to relate to or even imagine these experiences. Most of these obstacles stem from common misconceptions about what disabled people can or cannot do.   

Although some progress has been made, there remains a substantial employment gap of around 30% between disabled people and those without disabilities. However, what might be less well known is that this disparity is far worse for autistic individuals compared to most other disability groups. This month’s focus on livelihood and employment is so important.   

According to official statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions, 82.5% of adults without disabilities are in employment, compared with 53.6% of disabled people. Meanwhile, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal a shocking employment rate of just 22% for autistic individuals. For context, a recent report by the Criminal Justice Joint Inspection (CJJI): Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System estimates that 16%-19% of prisoners in the UK may be autistic. This illustrates to us that as an autistic person, you are almost as likely to be imprisoned as you are to be employed. 

If you would like to know more information like this, The UK Disability History Month site provides further statistics as well as a resource page. 

Disability Support at KCL 

Disability Advisers can meet disabled applicants and students in confidential, one-to-one appointments. Their main role is to assess your needs and arrange support. Disability Advisers also participate in projects with colleagues within the university to support the advancement of inclusion at King’s. They provide advice on Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), assistive technology, exam provisions, and residences. 

The Disability Support and Inclusion team at KCL supports both prospective and current students with: 

• Specific learning differences such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, and attention deficit disorder 

• Long-term medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome 

• Physical mobility impairments that are not restricted to wheelchair users but include conditions such as repetitive strain injuries 

• Hearing impairments 

• Visual impairments 

• Autistic spectrum disorders such as Asperger syndrome 

• Mental health difficulties such as anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia  

Please note that this is not a full list. For more information, contact Disability Support & Inclusion by email ([email protected]) and inform them of the support you need.