Supporting adults with learning difficulties Tuesday, March 23, 2010 - 15:11

Making it Work: Embedding a supported employment approach in vocational education and training for people with learning difficulties - for managers and tutors working with people with learning difficulties in further education colleges, community learning services, work-based learning, and voluntary sector organisations - provides information about the supported employment process and how this can be embedded in vocational training and courses.

The book - launched at a conference in London, on Tuesday 23 March 2010 - is a product of a two-year project funded by the Department of Health and focuses on:

• the voice of the learner;
• disability rights legislation and learning and skills policies;
• supported employment in the Learning and Skills sector;
• working with parents and carers; and
• working with employers.

The Making it Work conference was a chance for those working in the learning and skills sector to engage with the Valuing Employment Now delivery plan; the government initiative to radically increase the number of people with moderate and severe learning disabilities in employment by 2025.

Yola Jacobsen, the book's author and Programme Director at NIACE, said:

"The current economic climate and rising unemployment means finding work is more difficult for all people and in particular those furthest away from the job market. This makes it all the more important that vocational courses are effective in enabling people with learning disabilities to succeed in employment."

In the Foreword to Making it Work, Scott Watkin, Co-National Director for Learning Disabilities, Department of Health, said:

"It is important that people are supported to start thinking about jobs when they are still at school. That is why this book is so important. It will help to make sure that the right things happen at college and in education so that more people get and keep jobs."

The conference was chaired by David Sherlock, NIACE President, and keynote speakers included:

• Stephen Johns, Parent - A parents perspective;
• Kathy Melling, National Employment Lead, Valuing People Now Team - Local and Regional implementation of Valuing Employment Now;
• Nicola Gitsham, Joint Lead, of the Getting a Life programme, Valuing Employment Now - A pathway into employment for young people who have learning disabilities; and
• Dr Steve Beyer, Deputy Director, Welsh Centre Learning Disabilities, University of Wales - An evidence based approach to supporting people with learning disabilities into jobs.