Powerful online resource unlocks jobs for disabled

Leonard Cheshire Disability today launches a new online resource to make it easier for employers to find disabled jobseekers with the skills they need.

Suitability, a partnership between Leonard Cheshire Disability, the Employerís Forum on Disability and Jobsgopublic, is an online job brokerage initiative for registered jobseekers, employers and mentors.

www.lcdisability.org/suitability is backed by a team of advisers who identify the skills, talent and experience of disabled jobseekers and match them with employers.

Disabled jobseekers can contact personal advisors, connect with people with similar needs and goals, receive job alerts by SMS and access the Suitability CV Builder.

Employers can post vacancies online for free, recruit and hire staff, reach other companies through the Suitability Forum and sign up to virtual careers fairs.

Suitability builds on the success of Leonard Cheshire Disabilityís Workability initiative, that supports 8,000 disabled people to (brief description of what workability does).

Jane Fletcher, Leonard Cheshire Disabilityís Innovations Director, said: ìDisabled people are already far less likely to be in work than non disabled people. With the job market in free fall, they will face even more barriers to finding work.

ìMany disabled people do want to find a job, but often face the serious challenge of changing peopleís perceptions of who they are and what they can do.

ìSuitability aims to make it less exceptional to have a colleague who is disabled.î

Richard Tyrie, Jobsgopubic spokesman, said: ìJobsgopublic have worked closely with hundreds of public and not for profit sector employers to identify, attract and recruit a diverse talent pool for over 10 years. Our partnership with Leonard Cheshire Disability will ensure that the public sector extends their reach even further by having access to their client groups. We are confident this will have a significant impact on employersí outcomes.î