Jobs for People With Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome (or Down’s Syndrome) is a genetic condition that affects 1 in 1000 babies born every day in the U.K. Resulting from an extra chromosome in DNA make-up, people with Down Syndrome have symptoms mainly associated with physical growth delay, intellectual disability and distinct physical features.

Down Syndrome can cause some common secondary symptoms including:

• Problems with vision and eyesight
• Hearing difficulties
• Heart conditions
• Dental problems

Down Syndrome is classified as a disability in the U.K. and so it is a condition that needs to be both supported and respected throughout every aspect of life, including the world of work and employment.

Can People With Down Syndrome Work?

Many people with Down Syndrome are in active employment but even more people with the condition want to work and haven’t found the right opportunity. It is estimated that 65% of people with learning disabilities (including but not limited to DS) want to work but only 20% of those people actually do work.

People with Down Syndrome work in all different industries and all different job roles within those industries. People with DS are individuals with individual interests and skills, and they are able to provide value to lots of different kinds of jobs. It is important to never reduce a person to their disability or any kind of stereotype.

Those with Down Syndrome will need more support in employment than others, but that doesn’t mean they can’t work. Employers should be actively employing disabled people and they should be supporting them in the ways that they need throughout employment. At Careers with Disabilities, we want to help employers do this and help them reach a more diverse pool of candidates with inclusive job postings.

What Kind of Jobs Do People With Down Syndrome Have?

Some examples of jobs that people with Down Syndrome commonly have include

• Public speaker
• Charity organiser
• Food service assistant
• Barista
• Retail worker
• Hotel worker
• Housekeeper/cleaner
• Teaching assistant
• Jobs in the arts/media/television
• Sports roles including participant and/or coach
• Model
• Advocate
• Customer service assistant
• Intern
• Apprentice
• Hairdresser

This is just a small sample of the many jobs that people with Down Syndrome can do. There are so many opportunities out there, it simply takes the right support in order to make the right matches.

Where Can I Find The Best Jobs for People With Down Syndrome?

One of the very best ways to find the best match for a job/employer when you have Down Syndrome is to look for people who are Disability-Friendly. Working with people who want to learn how to support you and help manage your condition while in employment makes all the difference to your job satisfaction and how long you stay in that job.

If you find a Disability-Friendly, inclusive, and equal employer, you have a much higher chance of having a better time at work as a disabled person. It’s as simple as that.

You can find lots of Disability-Friendly employers on two sections of our site. Both on our list of inclusive company profiles and on our accessible live jobs board. These resources will help you easily find the right kind of employers and jobs for you as someone with Down Syndrome or as someone supporting someone else with the condition.