Disability

Disability Inclusion at the University

The University of Manchester is committed to creating an inclusive environment where disabled colleagues can thrive.

Disability is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 and can be the subject of unlawful discrimination, including direct discrimination and victimisation.

A person is defined as having a disability for the purposes of discrimination law if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader — one of only three Russell Group institutions to have achieved this status. This recognition, awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), reflects our commitment to taking positive action to support the employment, retention and progression of disabled people.

To support colleagues, the University is a member of several leading disability inclusion networks and initiatives:

• Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme – helping colleagues to voluntarily share that they have a non-visible disability and may need additional support, understanding or time.
• PurpleSpace – a global professional network for disabled employee networks, providing resources, community and leadership development.
• Business Disability Forum (BDF) – offering expert advice, guidance and practical tools to support disability inclusion.

Through our membership of the Business Disability Forum, colleagues can access confidential support via their expert advice service. To use this, colleagues should create an account using their University email address via the
https://businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/.