Disability Discrimination

Jean originally worked in Human Resources, and then moved into careers work with disabled students, their employers and careers advisers, working at Reading University Careers Service and then running a national careers charity for disabled graduates. She was a pioneer in making university careers fairs accessible for students with disabilities, and created a scheme for internship opportunities within blue-chip organisations. She edited a national magazine on disability and began training employers on the practical implications of the Disability Discrimination Act.

She has subsequently worked in many areas of the labour market - in the private, public and voluntary sectors, including being a Director of the Vocational Rehabilitation Association. She has run various businesses as well as held significant posts such as Employment Services Director at Heath and Case Management, a leading rehabilitation and case management company. She is trained in counselling, coaching and psychometric testing. Alongside all this she has been acting as an employment expert for the Courts since 1995, and is trained and experienced in all aspects of the role.

Jean has published widely on the subject of employability, disability management and legislation for different target markets, in particular job seekers with disabilities, their line managers, careers advisers and the rehabilitation community. The website www.rehabwindow.net and the newsletter RehabReview were started by Jean in order to create a single point of reference for all those interested in vocational rehabilitation in the UK. Creating this and the online Directory has enabled her to remain fully up to date with the various services that are offered to ill or injured people.

She also enjoys training and has designed and delivered many courses to various audiences, and has worked flexibly as a consultant and coach to many more. Following completion of her part-time Masters course in Organisational Behaviour at London University, she has lectured on a sessional basis at various higher education institutions such as Birkbeck (on the MScs in Organisational Behaviour, Occupational Psychology and Careers Counselling) and University of Brighton (on the MA in Case Management).

Jean welcomes contact from those interested in the above subject areas and she can be reached on jean.brading@rehabwindow.net, or by telephone: 0118 933 3366.

John Curtis is an expert in the field of disability and employment. He runs Charterhouse Partnership, which was formed in response to employers' demands for more information and guidance on disability legislation.