Leonard Cheshire Disability is calling on employers to post their jobs on a new online resource called Suitability launched today (16 February) which matches disabled jobseekers with the skills that employers need.

Firms can post their vacancies for free, recruit great candidates and network with other companies through the Suitability Forum and sign up to virtual careers fairs at www.lcdisability.org/suitability.

More than half of all disabled people of working age do not have a job, but many of them want to work and can bring valuable skills to the workplace.

Suitability is run by Leonard Cheshire Disability in response to this with, the Employer’s Forum on Disability and Jobsgopublic.

Employers will benefit from advice about disability equality, making responsible adjustments for disabled employees and schemes like Access to Work.

Disabled jobseekers can contact personal advisors, connect with people with similar needs and goals, receive job alerts by SMS and access the Suitability CV Builder.

Jane Fletcher, Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Innovations Director, said: “Disabled people are already far less likely to be in work than non disabled people. With the job market in free fall, they will face even more barriers to finding work.

“Many disabled people do want to find a job, but often face the serious challenge of changing people’s perceptions of who they are and what they can do.

“Suitability aims to make it less exceptional to have a colleague who is disabled.”