Undaunted by the
challenges of employing staff with learning disabilities, Larry Berkowitz has
been recruiting these adults for paid work at his homecare company, Bluebird
Care Barnet. He loves the energy and spirit they bring to his company.
As soon as he heard at a networking meeting about how the charity Norwood supports people with learning disabilities into real jobs, Larry was determined to get involved. He now has four members of staff working for him; they hand out Bluebird Care leaflets to the general public at different venues. Over the years various individuals from Norwood have also worked with Larry in his office with clerical work.
Unlike most
other employers, Larry was undeterred by the prospect of venturing into the
unknown. On the contrary, Emma Davis, Norwood’s manager of work skills and
employment, says he has been “very creative” in his approach and crucially, has
“listened to the needs of the individual”. “It’s difficult to find people like
Larry,” she says. “There is a lack of understanding and knowledge around
learning disabilities.”
Norwood works
closely with the employer to ensure that the transition for both company and
employee is practicable and smooth. First, the “job support coach” learns the
role and passes these skills on to the employee. Using the “TSI” approach –
training in systematic instruction – the coach examines the tasks and breaks
them down into sizeable chunks, which makes the training process easier. TSI
also considers the individual’s main way of learning and adapts the training
programme to their preferred style.
For the recruits,
James, Michael, Ben and Alex – who are all in their thirties – work has been
very empowering. “Without working, a lot of people with learning disabilities
fall into a gap where they are doing repetitive courses which aren’t really
motivating,” explains Emma. “Having a job promotes social inclusion and
inclusion into the work force. It provides them with a sense of purpose and
enables them further independence.” Ultimately, she says, it’s about giving
people a chance and listening to what they can bring to a company. “If you give
someone the opportunity to demonstrate
The bigger problem
is that many employers are fearful about the training and supervision involved,
perceiving the concept of employing people with learning disabilities as too
challenging to even consider. What they don’t realise is that these employees often
end up becoming an asset to the company. Larry quickly saw the potential in his
employees. Although initially shy and reserved, once on the job, their
confidence quickly built up and they were high-fiving people on the streets. “You
won’t get a more motivated, dedicated and excited individual,” he enthuses.
“There’s an energy. They bring spirit into the company. It is a real win-win
situation.”
Says Emma: “It’s
about looking at people’s ability rather than disability.”
Larry says
that,’ employing an individual with a learning disability not only adds serious
value to your company, but it has a massively positive and far reaching effect
on that individual and their family that is unmeasurable.
