Media & Disability

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• Guide on media & disability
  • Who Created this Guide?
  • Disabled People as Programme Participants
  • Employing Disabled People
  • Access to Broadcast Services
  • Communicating with Disabled People
  • Adjustments and Aids for People Specific Disabilities
    • Working with People who are Blind/Visually Impaired
    • Working with People who are Deaf/Hearing Impaired & People with Speech Impairments
    • Working with People with Mobility Impairments
    • Working with People who are Learning Disabled
    • Working with People who have a History of Mental Illness
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Guide on media & disability

Working with People who have a History of Mental Illness

• People who have been diagnosed with a mental illness or who have a history of mental illness are often – and with good reason – reluctant to discuss their disability in a job interview. You can ease the process of making contact, meeting and working with people with mental illness in a number of ways, including:
• When arranging to meet, try to be as flexible as possible – there might be problems with travelling by underground or other public transport, a need to avoid rush hour travel, or preference for a particular venue.
• Try to meet (or film) at a time of day that suits – some medication has side effects that are worse in the morning or afternoon; as far as possible allow the person to participate when they are at their best.
• If meeting in your office or a public place, make efforts to reduce extraneous noise – it’s easier to focus and relax in a quiet environment.
• Check out mental health organisations, publications and websites before making contact – familiarise yourself with the main types of mental illness and the main issues faced by users and survivors of mental health services