Last updated: 2 April 2025
Quiz – Are you ready for Disability Confident?
What is the Disability Confident Scheme?
The Disability Confident Scheme is a UK Government initiative which was launched in November 2016.
It is a voluntary scheme, and it offers free sign-up, resources and names the organisations that have signed up on its website.
The scheme has been designed to work for all sizes of organisations, from those employing at least one person to the large global employers.
Aims of the Disability Confident scheme
Disability Confident is a government scheme that aims to:
- engage and encourage employers to become more confident so they employ and retain disabled people,
- increase understanding of disability and the benefits of employing or retaining disabled people,
- increase the number of employers taking action to be Disability Confident,
- make a substantial contribution towards halving the disability employment gap.
You can find out more about the aims and objectives on the Department for Work and Pensions’ website.
How does the Disability Confident scheme work?
The scheme has three levels.
The three levels are:
- Disability Confident Committed – sign up and commit to the scheme,
- Disability Confident Employer – self assessment,
- Disability Confident Leader – externally validated submission.
Every organisation has to start on Level 1. You must complete each level before moving onto the next one. Organisations have three years to complete each level before moving up or re-registering to remain where they are.
Assess your readiness with our quizzes
To support your journey through the Disability Confident levels, we have created quizzes that help assess whether your organisation is ready for each stage.
How the quiz works
- Each quiz level has a series of questions that reflect the key requirements of each Disability Confident level.
- You should answer each question based on your organisation’s current policies and practices.
- To be considered ready for a particular level, you must achieve 100% score on the quiz. This ensures that you fully meet the criteria for that level of Disability Confident.
- After completing the questions, click ‘View questions’ button to view your results. The results will highlight areas for improvement.
Disability Confident Level 1 – Overview
Disability Confident Level 1 is called Committed. This is the entry level. Every organisation needs to start with regardless of where they are on their disability inclusion journey.
The aim of Level 1 is to help you start your journey and build the foundations needed for the next two levels.
Organisations can register for Disability Confident Level 1 by making five commitments and committing to at least one of nine activities.
Once you have signed up, you have three years to complete this level. If you need longer, you can re-register for this level again.
Disability Confident Level 2 – Overview
This is the middle level of the Disability Confident scheme. It builds on the work you started in Level 1.
Level 2 is more rigorous than Level 1. Before you register, you need to complete the self-assessment and confirm that with Disability Confident. We have included a completed example version of the self-assessment. Refer to our step-by-step guidance on completing Disability Confident Level 2 for more information.
Level 2 and focuses on two themes:
- Theme 1 – Getting the right people for your business,
- Theme 2 – Keeping and developing your people.
Both parts have core actions you must commit to and a list of activities for you to choose from.
Disability Confident Level 3 – Overview
This is the final level of the Disability Confident scheme and builds on the work carried out in the previous levels.
Before you register, you need to complete the additional steps set out in Level 3. These are:
- Challenge – having your self-assessment validated by named and authorised external validator(s) who are confident that you are meeting all the core requirements. You also have to show them that you are employing disabled people.
- Leadership – you are providing a narrative of the activities you have taken or are taking in support of being a Disability Confident Leader.
- Reporting on disability, mental health and wellbeing – by referring to the Voluntary Reporting Framework. You are taking action to record and report on disability, mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
How Business Disability Forum can support your organisation
Business Disability Forum Members and Partners can receive support to complete each level of the Disability Confident scheme. This includes:
- tailored guidance from our Advice Service on any question you may have about what your organisation needs to do,
- support from your dedicated Business Partner or Senior Business Partner,
- further information on core areas of disability inclusion and employment through access to the resources on our Knowledge Hub,
- validation of your Disability Confident Level 3 self-assessment.
If you require this content in a different format, contact enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.
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Related posts
Introduction to Disability Confident Scheme
How Business Disability Forum can help with your Disability Confident journey