New Leaf Career Guidance

New Leaf is the name of the unique career guidance software for spinal cord injured (SCI) people. The idea originated from SCI specialist occupational therapists who told us that traditional career guidance software could often be a dispiriting experience for SCI people to use. This is because it takes no account of, for example, tetraplegics, and just assumes that a wheelchair user can do any job sitting down!

New Leaf takes career guidance a step further by taking into account the needs of those with limited hand and arm movement as well as wheelchair users.

Really Useful Information Before You Start

There are many jobs for you to consider, no matter what your level of injury, whether paraplegic, tetraplegic, complete or incomplete injury. Before you use the New Leaf Career Guidance Tool, become familiar with:

• Your rights under the Equality Act for reasonable adjustments to be made in the workplace
• The 'Access to Work' scheme that assesses and supports you and your employer in making reasonable adjustments to your work environment and all aspects of returning to work.
• The wealth of information available to you as a disabled person on the Direct Gov website.
• The experiences of other SCI People in the workplace.

IMPORTANT:  Whilst you do not have to be a member of SIA to use the New Leaf Career Guidance tool, you will need to be logged in to the website in order for New Leaf to retain any details you enter into the Guidance tool.  If you haven't already registered with the website, you can do so from the Home page.

Click here to launch the New Leaf Career Guidance Tool

SIA gratefully acknowledges the support of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust who funded the development of New Leaf.

SIA does not claim that New Leaf will provide an exhaustive list of all jobs you may want to consider. If you would like to discuss your options further, or are not sure where to start, email our Employment Adviser, John Leonard or call him on 0845 678 6633.