Working with disability or support needs
The time has come: you have just graduated and are looking for a job. Naturally, you want to find that one job. That challenging workplace where you fit in, where you can develop yourself and where people take your disability or special needs into account. Sometimes you can use some extra support during your transition to work. You may be faced with dilemmas such as: do I mention my disability in a job application or not? Or maybe you do not know how best to deal with your disability during your work. There are also several persons and/or organisations that may be able to help you with this.
Nationwide schemes
Support from the government
Are you having trouble finding work because of an illness or disability? The government can support you in various ways.
- Municipalities support people with disabilities in finding a job. Together with you, the municipality will find out what support you need to find a job.
- Do you receive benefits from UWV? Then UWV can assist you in finding a job. This may be 'normal' work, a job for people with a disability (the Jobs Agreement) or sheltered work.
UWV can also support with:
- Trial placement: during the trial period, UWV continues to pay your benefits for two months. The employer then does not have to pay a salary;
- Facilities at work.
Also see what benefits there are for employers to hire someone with a disability.
Forms of support
- See Support at work (in Dutch) for information on workplace adjustment, job coaching and wage subsidy (a supplement to your wage).
- If a regular job is not possible, there are alternatives (in Dutch) such as sheltered work or labour-based day care.
You will find all these information on the website of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
Job agreement - Target group register - Quota scheme
You will come across these terms from time to time. But what do they actually mean? You will find more information on this via the link below.
Preparing and performing
If you get to work or are at work then you may have several challenges. So prepare yourself well. Check the help guide for organisations which can help you find a job. Below are several tips that can help you do just that.
Government support
Finding work if you have a work disability
Is it difficult for you to find work because of an illness or disability? The government can support you in finding work in various ways.
Where can you go?
Your municipality
Municipalities support disabled people in their job search. The municipality will work with you to determine what support you need to find a job.
UWV
Do you receive a benefit from the UWV? Then UWV can assist you in finding work. It can be 'ordinary' work, a job for people with a disability (the job agreement) or sheltered work.
UWV can also support with:
- Trial placement: during the probationary period, UWV continues to pay your benefits for 2 months. In that case, the employer does not have to pay a salary.
- Facilities at work.
- Also see what advantages there are for the employer to hire someone with an occupational disability.
- If a normal job is not possible, there are alternatives such as sheltered work or work-based daytime activities.
Also check what advantages there are for the employer of hiring someone with an occupational disability.
Forms of support
- Look at Support at work for information about adapting the workplace, job coaching and wage cost subsidy (a supplement to your wage).
- If a normal job is not possible, there are alternatives such as sheltered work or work-based daytime activities.
All this information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
Inspiration
- Naomi Vervaart shares about the necessary bumps she has had to overcome in her (study) career due to her progressive muscle disease. Get inspired!