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<p>Disability Confident is a pan-disability scheme that has been designed and developed
by disabled people, disability organisations and employers. The scheme provides employers
with the tools they need to recruit, retain and develop disabled employees. Embedded
within the scheme are links to useful videos, information and a range of guidance.</p><p>
</p><p>The scheme went live in a test and learn phase in July and was formally launched
on 2nd November 2016 at the Recruitment Employment Confederation in London, with press
releases and promotion through mainstream media, social media, Jobcentre Plus, disability
organisations, and Disabled People's User Led Organisations. Further promotion of
the scheme is being planned, including material in BSL.</p><p> </p><p>The aim of the
scheme is to reach the widest possible number of employers, covering all sizes and
sectors. This includes employers from the construction industry, a number of whom
have already signed up. Officials from my Department have worked with representatives
from the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to help the construction industry become
Disability Confident.</p><p> </p><p>The Disability Confident scheme contains embedded
links to information for employers about supporting staff with hearing loss, including
references to Access to Work. The Access to Work scheme can assist where disabled
people need support above and beyond employer-provided reasonable adjustments. Access
to Work features specialist teams who provide a dedicated service to particular groups
of customers, including deaf customers. The Government has committed to supporting
an additional 25,000 people through Access to Work by 2021.</p>
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