Career Education Association of VictoriaLearning is ongoing

Workplace Learning for students with disabilities

Friday 4 March 2011

Gaynor Martyn Concord School

Bernadette Gigliotti CEAV

Career Education Association of VictoriaLearning is ongoing

Context

• Defining disabilities • Why work placement is vital to career

development

Concord School – the process • Preparation of young people and parents for wpl• Employer preparation• School and staff preparation • Final Reporting

Career Education Association of VictoriaLearning is ongoing

Defining Disabilities

• Acquired brain injury

• Learning disabilities

• Sensory impairments

• Physical disability

• Intellectual disability

• Mental health conditions

• Chronic medial conditions

Career Education Association of VictoriaLearning is ongoing

Career Development

• Skill and life experience acquisition across the life span

• Life long and life wide experiences • Young people with disabilities need targeted and

timely exposure to the world of work • Work readiness may take longer • Career intervention - from time of enrolment

Career Education Association of VictoriaLearning is ongoing

Successful Workplace learning

Reflects• Student interests and reasonable expectations • Extensive preparation of student, parent,

employer and school staff• Debriefing which informs future wlp options• Ongoing support of students career aspirations

Career Education Association of VictoriaLearning is ongoing

Parents and WPL

• Eager to assist but fearful of exposure to the unknown

• Safety is paramount – OH&S • Use to routine and established strategies for

safety and survival from difficult behaviours

You need open, planned, early and timed communication strategies

NO SURPRISES!