Audience guide
Learning (intellectual) disabilities
People with learning disabilities are often loyal, reliable and proud of their work, yet are among the groups most excluded from paid work. Success comes from building the role around real tasks, clear routines, easy-read information and support from a job coach.
Adjustments are about what helps, not about labels. Never ask for a diagnosis, and let each person decide what they share.
What to do
- Use easy-read information with short sentences and pictures
- Show first, let the person try, then check together
- Keep routines and tasks consistent
- Work with a job coach or supported employment service
What to avoid
- Talking to the support worker instead of the person
- Giving several instructions at once
- Assuming someone can't learn more complex tasks over time
Typical adjustments
- Job carving: building a role from tasks that suit the person
- Picture-based task lists and schedules
- Extra time for training
- A regular buddy for questions
Extra steps in your plan
Build a role from real tasks
Collect tasks that others find time-consuming or repetitive and create a meaningful role from them. It frees up time for the whole team.
Get ready · Essential · Half a day
Give easy-read versions of key documents
A contract summary, safety rules and first-week schedule in short sentences with pictures. Check that they have been understood.
Offer and prepare · Essential · Half a day
Agree how the job coach will work with you
A job coach can train the person on site and step back gradually. Agree visits, contact and goals.
Onboard · Recommended · 15 min
Turn this into your own plan
Choose your type of business and who you are hiring, and get one checklist that tracks your progress, plus a tracker for each new hire's first six months.
This toolkit is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules on recruitment, adjustments and support schemes differ between countries, so check with your local employment service or an adviser.