Diversity Career Planning for young People Career Practitioners working with young people with disabilities

NDCO Program The NDCO Program aims to improve the transition of people with a disability aged 15 to 64 into further education, training and employment. Your National Disability Coordination Officer can help provide information, coordination and referral for people with a disability. There are 31 NDCO's across Australia, and 7 located within Victoria. This website provides information on the NDCO programs that are hosted in Victoria. www.ndcovictoria.net.au

Disability as defined in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) The definition of "disability" in the DDA includes: Physical Intellectual Psychiatric Sensory Neurological, and Learning disabilities, as well as Physical disfigurement, and The presence in the body of disease-causing organisms.

DDA 1992 Employment. For example, when someone is trying to get a job, equal pay or promotion. Education. For example, when enrolling in a school, TAFE, university or other colleges. Access to premises used by the public. For example, using libraries, places of worship, government offices, hospitals, restaurants, shops, or other premises used by the public. Provision of goods, services and facilities. For example, when a person wants goods or services from shops, pubs and places of entertainment, cafes, video shops, banks, lawyers, government departments, doctors, hospitals and so on.

DDA 1992 Accommodation. For example, when renting or trying to rent a room in a boarding house, a flat, unit or house. Buying land. For example, buying a house, a place for a group of people, or drop-in centre. Activities of clubs and associations. For example, wanting to enter or join a registered club, (such as a sports club, RSL or fitness centre), or when a person is already a member. Sport. For example, when wanting to play, or playing a sport. Administration of Commonwealth Government laws and programs. For example, when seeking information on government entitlements, trying to access government programs, wanting to use voting facilities.

Legislative requirements Signatory to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disability (2008) Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) - Standards for Education (2005)- http://www.ddaedustandards.info The Equal Opportunity Act 2010 – Victoria's anti discrimination law – protects people from discrimination and harassment in areas of public life such as workplaces, schools, clubs, shops or places that provide services.

People with disability in education and employment Only 50% of people with a diagnosed disability progress past year 10 at school, compared with 80% in the general population. 31% participate in the labour force compared with 83% for people without a disability. Two-thirds earn less than $320 per week compared with one-third of the general population. 45% of people with a disability live in / near poverty. (PricewaterhouseCoopers, ‘Disability Expectations: Investing in a better life, a stronger society’, 2011)

People with disability and occupations 19% of people with disability worked as professionals, 15% as clerical and administrative workers , and 15% as technicians and trade workers. Some variation of occupations according to the type of disability (eg. in 2009, 34% of people with intellectual disability were working as labourers while 20% of people with sensory or speech disability were in professional occupations).

People with disability and hours of work People with disability were more likely than people without disability to work part time (38% and 31% respectively). 35% of people with psychological disability who worked, usually worked no more than 15 hours. 30% of people with intellectual disability who worked, usually worked no more than 15 hours. (ABS, ‘Disability and Work’, 2012)

(ABS, ‘Disability and Work’, 2012) Unemployment rates People with moderate or mild intellectual disability (20%) had a higher unemployment rate than those with moderate or mild physical disability (8.8%). People with psychological or intellectual disability had the highest unemployment rates at 19% and 16% respectively. (ABS, ‘Disability and Work’, 2012)

Is career planning different for people with disability? Career planning is equally important for everyone as we all have value and need to continue to develop beyond compulsory and formal education settings. Career development theories attempt to describe and provide explanations of how career decisions are made, the difference is in the uniqueness of the individual not in the disability.

What barriers do they face (external / internal)? Disability is often seen as an area that requires a ‘disability specialist who is expected to provide all expert advise e.g. Careers, life planning, finance, mental health support, welfare support, learning engagement physio, attendant care. Career development expectations are often low in those around them including school, family and employment consultants so limited choices are presented and messages about expectations are embedded.

What barriers do they face (external / internal)? Complex service systems create anxiety and less complex, less rewarding options are often favoured Insufficient support to stay engaged in education resulting in being ‘counselled out’ of school final years Lack of appropriate opportunities to maintain personal development particularly for people with high support and/or complex needs following school Inflexible service systems due to funding contraints

Who decides what the barriers are? or if there are barriers? Quality career development for people who have disability will address not only individual strengths and interest but will also include what the person considers individual barriers and areas needing support such as travel needs, accessibility and disclosure . A team of people may be involved in discussions about support needs but the person with a disability, particularly as an adult must provide consent for disclosure in a way that they are comfortable.

Why do we need to discuss disclosure? Disclosure thoughtfully communicated demonstrates a level of self awareness and self efficacy that can support long term achievement of individual goals. Questions to consider Will the disability impact on my choices? What support or adaptions will I need to participate in my choices? Where can I get this support? When is the best time for me to disclose my disability? How do I explain my disability to others and who do I want to know?

As a professional Career Practitioner do you need additional specialist knowledge to do career planning with students with disabilities? Absolutely! You need to be a career practitioner, the rest is about the individual and their team. Know your post school options, a range of options for a range of interests. Know the Disability Discrimination Act

Strategies for empowerment and self determination Be clear about the focus from the beginning Its not about being ‘looked after’ its about lifelong learning and development beyond school years Contributing to the community and family in a range of ways that don’t necessarily equal paid employment but increase skills and self value. Remind the group that its not set in concrete the journey is learning along the way

Communication Meetings involving clear understanding of communication style, what works for the individual and what may inhabit their contribution of the PWD E.g Presumptions/ interruptions of others, unfamiliar environment, value loaded questions, verbal, visual, physical and alternative communication styles. Be aware of taking the power when time values and needs are different from others particularly if the person has difficulty communicating. Always refer back to the individual before reaching a conclusion what others know is often not the same as what you find out.

Who should be involved? The complexity of the individuals disability will often determine the range of people who may be involved in career planning. Some people who may play a key role in the planning process include Carers and family, particularly parents Integration staff from schools Senior school coordinators Mental health professionals ( At the discretion of the individual where relevant) Case managers Transition coaches (DHS) Disability Liaison Officer

EMPLOYMENT Customised employment and job design can be a suitable strategy for people who are unable to multi task , this is not limited to people with disability and is particularly promoted to people who have returned from work after injury. A good employment consultant will have the skills to understand job design and how to sell this to businesses.

What are the common questions you hear surrounding career planning for this group? What support is available to assist a person with a disability to participate in employment? There are three general types of employment that I like to explore. Each ranges is level of support and productivity of the individual. Open employment - (DES, JSA, Recruitment agencies, cold calling ect.) Supported Employment and Supported wage - (Australian Business Enterprises, Social Enterprises or privately negotiated via DES) Volunteering- volunteer registers, privately negotiated agreements possibly via DES

Disability Employment Services Through Disability Employment Services, job seekers with disability, injury or health condition may be able to receive assistance to prepare for, find and keep a job. The Employment Assistance Fund helps people with disability and mental health condition by providing financial assistance to purchase a range of work related modifications and services. Assistance is available for people who are about to start a job or who are currently working, as well as those who require assistance to find and prepare for work. The Fund may reimburse the cost of work related modifications and services including, but not limited to:

Disability Employment Services the cost of modifications to the physical work environment modifications to work vehicles adaptive equipment for the workplace information and communication devices Auslan interpreting specialist services for employees with specific learning disorders and mental health conditions disability awareness training Deafness awareness training, and mental health awareness training. http://jobaccess.gov.au/content/employment-assistance-fund

Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS) Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS) is an Australian Government incentive payable to an employer who employs an Australian Apprentice who satisfies the disability eligibility criteria in an Australian Apprenticeship. This wage support is also available to an employer who employs an Australian Apprentice who becomes disabled during their apprenticeship or traineeship. How much? $104.30 p/wk if eligible for an apprentice/trainee with a disability.

Are apprenticeships a realistic option? Research estimated the probability of apprenticeship / traineeship completion for a student with disability is 42% versus 46% for those without disability (Ball,K. ‘Apprentice and Trainee Completion Rates’, NCVER, 2005) Apprenticeship / traineeship completion rates more greatly affected by other factors such as: strong sense of personal efficacy; support from friends and family; supportive workplace supervisors and work culture; high value placed on the occupational situation (Karmel, T and Nguyen, N. ‘Disability and learning outcomes: How much does the disability really matter?’, NCVER, 2008)

Tutorial, interpreter and mentor services Up to $5000 mentoring/tutoring assistance for the RTO – Important that the form must be given to the Disability Liaison Officer if the RTO is a TAFE. They will be able to ascertain the amount of support needed. http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/program/support-australian-apprentices-disability

Where do I find out about strategies for inclusion? Job Access Workplace Adjustment Tool There are over 750 pages in the database and a number of ways to search for ideas on how to make a workplace more accessible.  You can search for ideas and solutions based on the type of job being undertaken, a particular disability, a type of product or a particular supplier. When you find a product or solution that interests you, the tool will link you to suppliers or services in your state or territory. http://jobaccess.gov.au/content/workplace-adjustment-tool

Further information Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training ADCET http://www.adcet.edu.au Victorian NDCO website www.ndcovictoria.net.au Broaden your Horizons Broaden Your Horizons is a centralised website that houses resources relating to young people with disability. The aim is to create an easy-to-navigate and time-efficient way to source targeted transition information for young people. http://www.imvc.com.au/content/broaden-your-horizons UMA Use my ability employability and disability project For employers university staff and students, practical advice to help students develop their employability skills Would you like advice on: developing employability skills? Abilities that underpin employability skills? impairments that impact on the abilities? inclusive strategies? http://usemyability.org.uk