Successful transitions from education to employment for learners on the autistic spectrum at Oaklands College Ela Nisbet

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Proud to achieve Successful transitions from
education to employment for learners on the
autistic spectrum at Oaklands College
Presentation by Ela Nisbet Outreach Transition
Worker at Oaklands College, Hertfordshire Filmin
g and technical support Sharon Stone E-learning
Developer, Oaklands College
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Autism facts statistics - employment

• According to NAS
• Over half a million people in the UK are on the
  autistic spectrum (around 1 in a 100)
• Lifelong, disabling condition
• A hidden disability you cant always tell
• Only 15 of adults with autism in the UK are in
  full-time paid employment
• 61 of those out of work say they want to work
• Nearly 2/3rds of adults with autism in England do
  not have enough support to meet their needs
• At least 1 in every 3 are experiencing severe
  mental health difficulties due to lack of support
• What can we do to help?

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The Supported Employment approach in Education

• What is Supported Employment ?
• it is a means of preparing disabled for
  work, finding them
• jobs and sustaining their long-term
  employment.
• People who want to work are provided with
  support in order to do so.

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Transition to Employment programme

• The best way to learn about work is by doing a
  real job
• Unique, individual and personalised programme
  linking education with employment
• Innovative championing the SE approach in FE
  (Vocational Profile training on the job job
  coach)
• Holistic, positive and realistic - looking at
  what person CAN DO and supporting them to achieve
  
• Inclusive same approach in mainstream and
  discrete provisions
• Flexible - fits around the learner and their
  chosen college course(s)
• Personal, social and vocational development with
  a specific focus on employment (gradual
  development of social skills and vocational
  competence in real work settings)
• Partnership working employers, parents,
  Connexions, supported employment agencies and
  other service providers
• All work has value paid and voluntary work
  options
• Continuum of support

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Key element structured, supported work
placements

• Opportunities for young people to
• experience the real world of work
• apply skills learnt at the college to a real job
• learn new skills and grow confident in the
  workplace
• develop positive relationships with work
  colleagues and be accepted by them
• find enjoyable and sustainable employment
• Enabling young people to
• live more independent and fulfilling lives
• make a real contribution to the local community
  and become a valued part of it
• Opportunities for local employers to get to know
  and
• recruit hard-working, skilled and committed
  workers

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Case study 1 Jonathon Lennon

• In education and training independent traveller
  
• Mainstream secondary school 3 GCSEs
• Mainstream at Oaklands - BTEC First Diploma IT
• Discrete provision - Ready to Work
• Travel training self taught
• Back to mainstream - BTEC National Award IT
• BTEC First Diploma in Art and Design
• BTEC National Diploma in Interactive Media
• Supported work placements and voluntary work
  Over 60s Club, Hertfordshire PASS and Marks and
  Spencer
• Ambitions for the future

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Case study 2 Mark Boxer

• Combining education with part-time paid
  employment independent traveller car driver
  living independently.
• Left special school at 16
• Mainstream at Oaklands Entry Level Business
  Administration and Retail
• Introduction to voluntary work (Earthworks)
• Specialist travel training
• Supported work placement at Waitrose resulting in
  part-time paid employment
• Driving test passed at first attempt!
• BBC LSC Big Skill (Skills for Work) winner in
  2009
• Progress to National Award in Business
• Fulfilling life own flat, car, trip to New York
  in 2010, sustainable employment and professional
  achievements
• Ambitions for the future

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Transition to Employment programme the benefits

• One to one ongoing support, information and
  guidance
• Specific focus on employment
• Vocational profiling identifying vocational
  interests, skills and abilities
• Positive outlook building on strengths helping
  to address any weaknesses
• Achievable goals
• Gradual development of social and vocational
  skills in real work settings with appropriate
  level of support
• Natural supports at work (work buddies)
• Supported work placements training on the job
  working interview
• Variety of opportunities wealth of transferable
  skills
• Maximising positive outcomes through partnership
  working
• Continuum of support partnership working

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A BIG THANK YOU

• Jonathon Lennon, Hilda Lennon and Marks and
  Spencer, London Colney
• Mark Boxer, Sarah Boxer and Marks employer
  Waitrose, WGC

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For more information go to

• Oaklands College, Learning for Living and Work

http//learn.oaklands.ac.uk/course/view.php?id886