intellectual disability
advertorial
a full life
S
tatistics tell us that people
with intellectual disability
do incredibly well in open
employment* when given the right
job match in the right working
environment with the right support
by a trained professional. So
why are people with intellectual
disability still under-represented in
the workforce? with routine. Same person, same because they’ve got a great routine
time, same place suits them well, and great support from people who
so obviously the right type of post- know what they’re doing.”
placement support is vital.
they’re doing when it comes to
Post-placement support is more
Indeed, NOVA knows what
than driving around to the workplace finding award-wage employment for
at any old time, asking how the people with intellectual disability. Of
person with a disability is going and the 1492 job seekers with intellectual
then driving off. It is an easy trap to disability who signed up with NOVA
think, Oh Bessie did well last week. since 2010, over 50% have found
I’ll give her a miss this week. work that lasts for over a year. NOVA
more of the above conditions are strives to find good jobs that lead to
absent or are of variable quality. post-placement support for people economic independence.
Unfortunately, this is not uncommon, with intellectual disability is delivered Why is independence important?
and results in people with intellectual by a well-trained support worker who Every person with disability has the
disability being seen to be less liaises with all of the stakeholders right to live as full a life as they aspire
effective workers than they really are. in the person’s life – employer, to. The more real choice in regards to
In turn, this limits our expectations of colleagues, parents, carers and the travel, socialising, leisure and work,
people with intellectual disability. person themselves. the closer people come to living this
full life. This is particularly so for work,
Challenges arise when one or
Consistency is key. Effective
This has to stop. People with intellectual disability Martin Wren, says, “We have people because it sustains us emotionally,
who have been in work for 20 years intellectually and financially.
thrive in a supportive environm ent
NOVA Employment’s CEO,
NOVA achieves success by
‘aiming high’ on behalf of job seekers
with intellectual disability. From
the CEO down, NOVA staff have an
inviolate trust in the ability of people
with disability to live fully, believing
that the way into this full life is
through open employment alongside
everyday workers. The organisation
takes a genuine interest in job-seeker
skills and passions, finds a job that
suits in an understanding workplace,
then provides carefully considered
support to both the employee and
employer for as long as required.
* Open employment is that which
pays award wages in a mainstream
workplace alongside able-bodied
workers.
Daniel Di Cristo has been working with his boss, Mick Wasson, for 16 years.
44
intellectual disability
linkonline.com.au