Having the opportunity to be in a work or volunteering type role can provide a sense of purpose, self-worth and the opportunity to contribute to the community.
This section of our website will look at how you could support your family member with disability to pursue their interests and strengths to form a work or volunteering type role in their life.
When we use the words “work role” this can include a range of opportunities and experiences from volunteering in a work environment a few hours a week, setting up a small business, or being in a paid role a few hours a week to full time hours. It is still important to think of all the possibilities, as partial participation can still entail full involvement in the role.
Taking the lead when exploring employment opportunities or work roles for someone with disability can be critical in the success of gaining a meaningful role.
Why is a work role important?
There are many benefits people get out of having a work role, such as;
Forging relationships with coworkers and having a deeper level of engagement with others
Think about passions/interests/strengths of your family member – think ordinary, everyday life options. Some families have found it helpful to first think about the vision for their family member with their working life as part of that vision. It can help clarify what is important to the person, what they enjoy, how they want to spend their time, and their dreams.
Some people with disability may be able to articulate their own vision. Some may need assistance. Others may need those closest to them to dream for them based on their long standing love and knowledge of the person. Try not to think of any limitations or barriers or support needs when thinking about a vision. That can come later.
The Resourcing Inclusive Communities website provides guidance about developing and creating a vision. Possible questions to consider when thinking about interests:
Government supports – Disability Employment Services
Government supports and initiatives are also in place to assist people gain employment. Your family member may be eligible to access these supports as well. It is important to point out that if your family member is accessing a Disability Employment Service, it is valuable for families to take an active role and use some of the ideas listed on the previous webpage.
Employment Support Service provides assistance to people with disability who need regular, ongoing support to keep a job.
Disability Employment Services are a national network of community and private organisations dedicated to helping people with disability find work and keep a job in the open labour market. They also provide assistance to create natural supports within the workplace.
Disability Employment Services should provide:
If your family member is registered with a Disability Employment Service and the above is not occurring please contact us and we can provide guidance on how to speak with the service.
To find out if your family member can receive support through a Disability Employment Service, or other Commonwealth employment programs, it is suggested to either contact an Employment Service Provider directly or contact Centrelink on 13 28 50 as they can also refer you to a provider. Some providers may request you get a referral from Centrelink and others may register you on the spot. To find out where an Employment Service Provider is near you contact Job Access on 1800 464 800.
Some Disability Employment Services (DES) may request some form of proof that your family member has a disability. If your family member is not on a Disability Support Pension or does not have a labelled diagnosis, it may be sufficient enough to request a letter from their local General Practitioner. You can also speak to Family Advocacy about how you might approach this issue.
If your family member is supported by a Disability Employment Service, you should be aware of what the services’ role entails. Disability Employment Services are to place, train and maintain people into quality jobs in the regular workforce.
It should be expected that once someone is employed, an employment service will provide initial one-to-one support until the person with disability can carry out the agreed role of the job.
Expected Ongoing Maintenance from a Disability Employment Service
Disability Employment Services should also provide ongoing maintenance support to ensure that everything is continuing to run smoothly. Staff should then be available to provide additional training, encouragement to a work staff about further development and learning and also explain relevant information on supports required to new supervisors or co-workers.
Want extra information about Disability Employment Services?
If you would like more information on DES please follow the link to access the Guidelines:
The JobAccess Advisers can provide confidential advice free of charge on matters relating to the employment of people with disability. Assistance available includes help finding work, changing jobs, accessing DES providers and workplace modifications to help you find and maintain employment. Contact the JobAccess Advisers on 1800 464 800.
IncludeAbility is an initiative of the Australian Human Rights Commission developed to increase meaningful employment opportunities for people with disability, and to close the gap in workforce participation between people with disability and people without disability.
It is also useful to be aware of the National Standards for Disability Services (NSDS). The National Standards for Disability Services document covers the rights and outcomes for people as well as standards for service and indicators of practice under each of the 6 national standards. Standards 1, 2 and 3 in particular cover rights, participation and inclusion, and individual outcomes. The NSDS are applicable to all Disability Employment Services under the the Department of Social Services. Services also need to adhere to the Quality Strategy for Disability Employment and Rehabilitation Services as legislated in the Disability Services Act (1986).
In NSW there is legislation designed to respect the human rights of people with disability through the following objects of the Disability Inclusion Act, 2014.
“(a) to acknowledge that people with disability have the same human rights as other members of the community and that the State and the community have a responsibility to facilitate the exercise of those rights,
“(b) to promote the independence and social and economic inclusion of people with disability,
“(c) to enable people with disability to exercise choice and control in the pursuit of their goals and the planning and delivery of their supports and services,
“(d) to provide safeguards in relation to the delivery of supports and services for people with disability,
“(e) to support, to the extent reasonably practicable, the purposes and principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,
“(f) to provide for responsibilities of the State during and following the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Please call Family Advocacy if you have specific questions regarding service standards and what should be expected.
You can also download our Factsheet of questions you can ask when investigating a DES for your family member.
Below are examples of people with disability who have really thought about finding employment opportunities that have suited them and all of these began with having high expectations from families and having a vision. The examples of the individuals come with a variety of disabilities and varying support needs, some have no communication, some have been labelled with “challenging behaviour”. Most of their families were told when they were born their life would be limited and not to expect much – do not even imagine them working in real employment, but despite this these individuals and their families have chosen a different path, one that is far from this. Some are from cities, some are from rural areas, some are supported by an employment service, and others are being innovative with using their support hours to start their own business or become volunteers in their communities.
Josh’s Story – Josh attended his local school in the regular class and completed his work experience with two businesses whilst at school; he is now volunteering at both businesses as well as running his own mail courier service, JLSMailink. This film highlights how far reaching the beneficial impacts of an inclusive education can be and how instrumental it is for families to have a strong vision of the possibilities of the future.
Tims Place – read about Tim, a man fulfilling his dreams and challenging expectations, and watch this 4 minute clip of Tim as a Restaurant Owner http://www.timsplace.com/tim-live/ for more insights.
Cameron: The receptionist
Adam – Business owner Adam’s apple
Hear more from Sally Richards and Jackson’s employee in this Talks That Matter film by Belonging Matters.
Nathan Basha – Social Entrepreneur and motivational speaker
Cameron: Business Owner – Cam Can
Jamie Brewer: Hollywood Actress
Alex: Business owner, artist – Collaboart
Dan: Jewelry Maker, Business owner
Alex Sneddon: Office Worker and Volunteer
Margaret: Retail employee
Joel: Software Developer Hewlett-Packard
Glen: Author and University Student
Visit Resourcing Inclusive Communities ‘Valued Roles’ page for more examples
Customised Employment – These are the notes from a presentation made by Peter Symonds, General Manager for Operations at Possability in Tasmania. Instead of competing for advertised jobs in the open labour market, customised employment strategies are used to support people to create opportunities in businesses and organisations that suit their unique skill set and support needs.
Seeking quality Customised Employment Supports – This resource by Resourcing Inclusive Communities, aims to support family members to approach services or job coaches in a positive and helpful way, to help achieve better Customised Employment outcomes.
Factsheet: Questions for Disability Employment Services – This document is intended to help prompt ideas and questions to ask when investigating a Disability Employment Service (DES) for your family member.
Planning my career – A group of exercises and strategies designed for planning a job or career for a young person with a disability.
CV – Template – A word document template, which has headings that will help guide you in putting together a CV
Using natural supports in the work place
Ethical guidelines for professionals in supported employment
Expanding the Job and Career Options for People with Significant Disabilities
Preparing For Life Transitions: Home to School; Class to Class; Primary to High School; High School to University, TAFE or Work
Daring to have high work expectations – Nathan and Joanne Basha
Changing Lives, Yes We Can! Mary Kealy, Ireland
Ontario’s sheltered workshops to close forever – Province vows better services and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, with a gradual rollout “one person at a time
Oregon’s sheltered workshops for the disabled to be phased out under terms of settlement
Watch Michael Kendrick – How low expectations limit the Good Life:
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