21 November 2019
Learning disability week - Caris finds her dream job
Less than 6% of people with a learning disability are in paid
employment. Despite the many barriers facing her,
Caris Douglas, 30, from Bristol, who has a learning
disability, has achieved her dream of getting a job working at the
Bristol Royal Infirmary, thanks to support from the UK's leading
learning disability charity, Mencap.
As part of
Learning Disability Work Week (18th - 22nd November 2019), Caris will be helping
Mencap to inspire others, like her, to not let a learning
disability stop them from achieving their dreams.
For people with a learning disability, employment is more
than just a job - it empowers them to be more confident,
independent and feel a part of society. Sadly, many people with a
learning disability tell us that unemployment makes them feel
isolated, depressed and excluded from wider society.
Caris Douglas said:
"I tried to find a job before, but I found it really hard. No
one around me was hiring. It was difficult to get experience so
that I could get a job. I wanted to do work experience because it
is really nice to get out of the house for a few hours. It gave me
a chance to speak to other people in my area. It can get a bit
depressing at home.
"Mencap has helped me a lot with my
confidence and talking to new people. I have been able to meet new
people that I wouldn't have met without this scheme. I just want to
say 'Thanks' to Mencap."
Inaccessible application forms mean that
nearly a third of people with a learning disability found it hard
to apply for jobs, according to Mencap's new survey of
1625 adults with a learning disability in the UK.
Vanda Martins, Deputy Manager of
Hotel Services at the Bristol Royal Infirmary,
said: "I would recommend other employers to engage in
Learning Disability Work Week.
Caris has worked for us for approximately two years. This is
a very busy working environment and I'm very impressed with her
performance and improvement in these last couple of years. She is a
hard worker, always willing to learn and helpful to colleagues,
patients and visitors.
"When Caris first started she lacked confidence and was very
shy. Two years later, Caris performs well and I always have a
positive feedback from colleagues and patients of her performance
and conduct. Caris's confidence has improved 100% and she is now a
different person from when I first met her. She takes her own
initiative and works without supervision. We completely trust her
to carry out jobs on her own and she always performs well. I would
love to have more staff at work like Caris, she is a joy to work
with."
Mencap is hosting a business breakfast, co-hosted with
Virgin Money and supported by the Financial Times, at which people
with a learning disability will talk to
employers about how they can change attitudes towards
disability in the workplace and adopt practices that will open
doors for this untapped talent pool.
Mark
Capper, Head of Development in the Lifestyles and Work team at
Mencap, said: "People with a learning disability can
work and want to work, and with the right support they can also
make really fantastic employees. Our research
has shown that simple things like inaccessible application forms
are a real barrier to people with a learning disability applying
for jobs. Often all that is needed is small and
cost-effective reasonable adjustments to open the doors for people
with a learning disability who want to work and who go on to be committed
employees. In 2018 alone, Mencap supported over nearly 1800
people with a learning disability through our employment
programmes, with over 250 people securing employment by the end of
it. We're pleased to have teamed up
with the Bristol Royal Infirmary to help Caris achieve her dream
job. We know that for people with a learning disability, paid
employment transforms their lives. Aside from the
money - which gives
more independence and choices
- it's
also a sign of social
inclusion and being valued and seen
as an equal, a full member of
society.It is
also good for business - it's a real win-win."
Find out more about Learning Disability
Work Week (18th - 22nd November 2019) and
Mencap's employment services:
https://www.mencap.org.uk/get-involved/learning-disability-work-week
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