This session aims to outline the legal rights that protect disabled employees and workers, with particular reference to the university workplace.

The session will comprise a series of short presentations on legal and practical topics, to enable you to work effectively with your line manager, and the wider university personnel services, towards implementing the adjustments and support you need to be successful in your role.

The session will have a particular focus on the legal rights of people with chronic health conditions, mental health conditions, and neurodiverse persons, but the principles discussed will also apply to all those with a disability as defined by law – even if the individual does not see themselves as disabled.

We hope that the session will also raise awareness of the fact that a large number staff at the University of Leeds (‘UoL’) and elsewhere are legally ‘disabled’ – yet who may not realise that they have legal protection – and therefore can negotiate reasonable adjustments to their working practices.

Who is this session for?

We want to stress that this session is intended to support line managers, as well as employees and workers, so that everyone has a better understanding of how to approach disability in the workplace.

Speaker:

Rebecca Jiggens, Director of Just Reasonable Ltd. Becca is a social entrepreneur, academic & employment lawyer based at the University of Leeds.

Content of session:

• Basic introduction to disability law including the legal definition of "disability" and of "reasonable adjustment’"

• What does “reasonable” mean when asking for adjustments to your working practices?

• Practical top tips for speaking to your line manager and Occupational Health.

Disability Rights in the Higher Education Workplace