Supported Employment

Timetable – Session 1 Introduction to the module Strategies to promote work for people with disabilities The emergence of supported employment BREAK Definition of Supported Employment Core Values

Learners who successfully complete this module will: be familiar with the model of Supported Employment and it’s underpinning ideology be capable of supporting individuals with learning disability to plan and develop careers develop knowledge and skills in marketing Supported Employment and in finding jobs for individuals with learning disability acquire skills in supporting successful working relationships between employers and their employees with learning disability

Methods of Assessment Project……………………..60% 2 Assignments……………40% GRADING Pass50 – 64% Merit65 – 79% Distinction80 – 100%

Supported Employment Session 1 Understanding Supported Employment

Employment Rates of People with Disabilities and People without a disability in Ireland from the NDA report “A Strategy of Engagement” Living in Ireland 2000 Census 2002 Quarterly National House- hold Survey 2002 Quarterly National House- hold Survey 2004 People with disabilities People without a disability Employment Rate Gap

Strategies to improve employment statistics for people with disabilities Quotas Anti-discrimination law Pre-vocational training Subsidies/payment schemes Tax relief to employers

Employment Equality Act 1998 Outlaws discriminatory practices in employment on 9 grounds: 1. Gender 2. Marital status 3. Family status 4. Sexual orientation 5. Religion 6. Age 7. Disability 8. Race 9. Membership of the Traveller Community

The act covers  Equal pay  Access to employment  Vocational training  Conditions of employment  Work experience  Promotion  Dismissal It applies to  public and private sector employment  vocational training bodies  full-time and part-time workers

The Equal Status Act 2000 This act applies to more than employment The employment relevant pieces of the act relate to discrimination caused by access issues and public transport systems.

Key characteristics of supported employment Support to choose, find and stay in employment Paid the going rate Jobs in the open labour market Training on-the-job

Why is SE different? No financial subsidies to employers No training prior to the job Support to find the job Support to learn the job Support to stay in the job The employer pays a normal wage

Definition of Supported Employment Supported Employment is paid employment with ongoing supports in the open labour market.

Sheltered Workshops Workers have no employment contract and are not protected by employment legislation Workers are not entitled to trade union membership Workers are not paid the going rate for the job. Their main income is statutory benefits. The workshop pays them therapeutic earnings. They are workers – but not employees!

Criteria for Supported Employment Real jobs in the open labour market Ordinary employment contracts Going rate for the job Support to choose, find and keep the job

Four Core Values underpinning Supported Employment Normalisation Social Role Valorisation Inclusion Empowerment

Social Devaluation Appearance or characteristics of of the individual ….which are observed by others …and seen to be of less value and worth and therefore negative The negative perception is applied to the whole person The person is placed in a social role with low value and status The person is treated as being of little worth by others

Negative consequences of social devaluation: Rejection Negative labeling Segregation Grouping Loss of autonomy Loss of relationships Poverty Low self-esteem

Social Devaluation Appearance or characteristics of of the individual ….which are observed by others …and seen to be of less value and worth and therefore negative The negative perception is applied to the whole person The person is placed in a social role with low value and status The person is treated as being of little worth by others