“My name on the door by the Professor's name”: The process of recruiting a researcher with a learning disability at a UK university

Background: The advantages of including people with learning disabilities in research teams have been well described, but it is rare for researchers with learning disabilities to be employed at a university. This paper explores the extent to which university recruitment procedures are accessible to job applicants with learning disabilities. Methods: We present reflections on the process of recruiting a Research Assistant with a learning disability onto a university research team. The recruitment process is described from the perspectives of the employee, line manager and Human Resources representative. Findings: The recruiting manager and Human Resources representative had to make adjustments to a wide range of standard processes, including centralised online recruitment systems that were difficult to navigate, inaccessible job descriptions and difficult application forms. Finding workarounds to ensure reasonable adjustments were made was time-consuming. The employee needed significant support from within his own networks to cope with the application process and had concerns about the potential impact of fixed-term job contracts on future benefits. Despite our efforts, procedures remained difficult for the applicants to navigate. Conclusions: Employing researchers with learning disabilities is important. Fundamental changes to job application systems are required, including easy-to-understand information, alternative formats of application forms, and support available where needed. Flexibility from the Human Resources departments is key. They will need support from teams with experience working with people with learning disabilities.