Category: Episodes

94 Ways Into Work – Supported Employment

June 9, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on 94 Ways Into Work – Supported Employment

The focus of this episode, in the Ways Into Work series, is Supported Employment with David Stenning from The Education People. David talks about the Supported Employment model and putting the young person at the centre but also supporting those around them. He discusses how vocational profiling helps in teasing out the transferable skills that a young person may have. David explains why employer engagement and educating employers about issues like reasonable adjustments is so important.

93 Ways Into Work – Inclusive Job Boards Part 2

June 2, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on 93 Ways Into Work – Inclusive Job Boards Part 2

In this the second part of Ways Into Work – Inclusive Job Boards Jane Hatton from Evenbreak discusses the importance of young people with additional needs learning to truly value the transferable work skills they already have, which have often been developed because of their life experiences. She also talks about the role parents play in helping create that sense of self worth in their children, reminding them of their unique talents and why these will be useful when they look for work.

92 Ways Into Work – Inclusive Job Boards Part 1

May 26, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on 92 Ways Into Work – Inclusive Job Boards Part 1

In this episode of the Ways Into Work series we are talking to Jane Hatton from Evenbreak about how their inclusive Job Board is connecting employers with premium employees. Young people with additional needs can be extraordinary employees because they have already dealt with all the challenges their disability and often society has thrown at them. Evenbreak supports people to realise and maximise their own value and connects them with employers who appreciate their skills.

91 Ways Into Work – Communities and Networks

May 19, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on 91 Ways Into Work – Communities and Networks

Latest episode in the Ways Into Work series. In this episode we discuss with Richard Lamplough from My Employment Passport the role of local communities in providing paid work opportunities for young people with additional needs. In addition he explains how our own networks of friends and colleagues can be a valuable source of employment and work experience opportunities.

90 Ways Into Work – Supported Internships Part 2

May 12, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on 90 Ways Into Work – Supported Internships Part 2

In this episode we continue the series Ways Into Work exploring the role of employers, education providers, government agencies and parents in creating Supported Internship programs that help young people with additional needs find and retain paid work. Claire Cookson, CEO of DFN Project Search also discusses why developing employability skills along with the presumption of employment needs to become the place we start at when it comes to education for our children.

89 Ways Into Work – Supported Internships Part 1

May 5, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on 89 Ways Into Work – Supported Internships Part 1

In this new series Ways Into Work we start off by looking at Supported Internships how they work and why this model has proved so successful at getting young people with additional needs into long term paid employment. Claire Cookson the CEO of DFN Project Search explains how the program works and the different people involved, such as job coaches. She also discusses why the way success is measured matters so much for programs like these.

88 Staying Positive to Move Forward

March 31, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on 88 Staying Positive to Move Forward

After speaking to organisations in both the UK and USA, I believe there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic in the future, despite the recent impact of employment opportunities for young people with additional needs due to Covid. It seems to me that we collectively have a stronger sense of community after the last year, and we place greater value on other human beings. If we capitalise on this change in priorities then, just maybe, we can change presumptions when it comes to employment.

Introduction

March 31, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on Introduction

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Listen to the first episode of the Expanding Worlds Podcast where we share stories and solutions which help parents of children with additional needs build a better future for their child. 

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01 The Ark Project

March 31, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on 01 The Ark Project
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Episode 01 of the Journey Skills Podcast. This week we talk to Hester the founder of the Ark Project. Based in the South of England it helps young people with additional needs develop practical work skills.

Show Notes
[00.45] – All about Hester and her previous life as an occupational therapist before she decided to go in a different direction resulting in The Ark
[1.20] – How young people come to the project through Shared Lives.
[1.40] – How the project helps young people find their own sense of purpose
[2.00] – How the small holding part of the project works and what skills its teaches
[3.20] – The importance of being creative and learning skills in a real environment
[4.20] – Shared Lives – What it’s all about and the process of becoming a registered provider
[6.45] – The practical skills being learnt and the importance of developing confidence through doing
[7.45] – “Know the Dough”
[8.00] –  Developing transferable skills which can be used to live an independent life and giving a real sense of purpose and place in their own communities
[12:00] – Looking to the future and believing in the potential of people to run their own businesses
[13.00] – The future of The Ark
[14.15] – The importance of treating everyone as an individual and allowing them to work at their own pace on the things that really interest them.

Key Takeaways
Learn through doing, doing and doing
Embrace your creativity

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02 Growing Up with Asperger’s

March 31, 2021 expanding-admin Episodes Comments Off on 02 Growing Up with Asperger’s
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Podcast Episode 02. Hear a Mother talk about how she helps her son, with Asperger’s, navigate the challenges
of growing up. Thoughts on how to deal with managing friendships and finding common interests to encourage those friendships. Tips on dealing with puberty and ways to encourage independence slowly but surely.

Show Notes
[1.00] – All about Linda and her son
[3.00] – What it means to have Asperger’s for the child and the family
[4.45] – Trying to manage the outside world through visualization
[6.10] – Learned behaviors and the problems with having a limited set of scripts to manage encounters
[10.00] – The role of context and a shared focus in friendships
[13.00] – Developing independence skills the benefits and the challenges
[19.00] – How an independent future might look
[23.15] – The challenges of puberty and resources that could help
[25.20] -Remembering you’re not alone and how important it is to take care of yourself

Key Takeaways
Finding shared interests to aid friendships
Take care of yourself

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