How to ask for reasonable adjustments when applying for jobs

Posted on: 8 May 2026 by Olga Chatzidaki in Hints, tips and advice

I’m Morgan, a 3rd year Biochemistry Integrated Masters student and 1st year Career Coach. I’m also living with disabilities, being formally diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD – Dyspraxia), and other diagnosed mental health conditions, as well as being in the process of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessment.

What resources do you recommend for approaching the recruitment process as a student living with a disability? 

I highly recommend EmployAbility for anyone with any disability. They are non-profit that work to help disabled people understand what their rights are during the hiring process and can help you in advocating for those rights. Knowing what your rights are and how you can go about disclosing your needs and advocating for any adjustments can be nightmare, which is why they are here to help. 

What is the main barrier you face when going through typical recruitment processes? 

I find it hard to convey my ideas across to recruiters. My disabilities make it harder for me to connect thoughts and ideas to words which leads to me stumbling over myself, forgetting words, and not being able to impress recruiters. While some of this is from nerves, a lot of it isn’t and is a real challenge I face every day. In education, I get extra time for exams and some lenience when it comes to spelling and grammar, and is the same reasonable adjustment that would mitigate that disadvantage during the recruitment process. 

What's the best piece of advice you have been given to support you through recruitment processes as someone who identifies as having a disability? 

That I should advocate for myself and ask for the reasonable adjustments I am entitled to. I’ve always seen it as a hassle for the recruiters and that if I’m good enough I should be able to go through the recruitment process the same as everyone else but this has only made it harder. There’s no shame in asking for adjustments you need so you can perform at your best. 

What do you look for in a company?  

I always look for the EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) policy and I will try and check what they have done to uphold their policy, whether it’s through initiatives or awards. I’ll always try to see if they back up their claims for EDI to see if it’s all talk or if it’s actually what they do. 

What do you think companies could do to make recruitment processes more accessible? 

Being outspoken about reasonable adjustments and actively making applicants aware that they can ask for them. It’s not showing favouritism or being unfair to make disabled people aware of what they can have to make sure they aren’t disadvantaged by the system.  

We have also seen a shift to a more online based recruitment process which has a lot of accessibility advantages, but for companies that still do in person recruitment stages, having online options for those who need it. This also benefits anyone working a fair distance away where travelling to the stage can be costly, or people who can’t travel in due to medical reasons or pregnancy. A lot of accessible options don’t just benefit disabled people, but benefit a lot of other people too.