Transitions work in Wales Supporting young people with sight loss to - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transitions work in Wales Supporting young people with sight loss to achieve their full potential in education, training and employment. training and employment. Sophie Dyment - Transitions Officer - RNIB Cymru 1

• Based at Neath Port Talbot College . • All Wales remit. • Supporting people from 14 - 25 years old. • Help reduce number of visually impaired people currently Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) in Wales. Employment or Training (NEET) in Wales. • 65 % of visually impaired adults of working age are currently unemployed. 2

Joining up the journey. School 6 th form/college 6 form/college University Employment 3

Joining up the journey. School Vocational training Employment 4

Joining up the journey. Joining up the journy. School Employment 5

How can the Transitions Officer help join up the journey ? Provide information and guidance to enable young people to plan ahead and make better informed choices about their future. How? • Transitions guide • One to one advice and guidance 6

A flexible approach to supporting young people is essential. Why? There are different barriers for each There are different barriers for each individual depending on their skills, personal circumstances, aspirations and point of transition they are at. 7

Barriers to effective transition • Lack of awareness / information about support (Access To Work). • Under developed soft skills e.g confidence / self advocacy/ posture/ eye contact advocacy/ posture/ eye contact • Lack of meaningful work experience placements. • Access to I.T. • Lack of awareness about how to deal with disclosure. • Misconceptions of employers / lecturers etc. 8

90% of employers rate visually impaired people as either “ difficult” or “ impossible” to “ impossible” to employ. RNIB Research 2004: Beyond the stereotypes – blind and partially sighted people and work, London. 9

Sometimes it may be necessary to challenge the PROCESS by which an employer recruits. Is it accessible to an applicant with a visual impairment? 10

Ambassador project 8 young adults recruited Rationale: using positive role models to raise aspirations, share experiences of transition and provide solutions to problems from and provide solutions to problems from personal experience. Help address isolation via radio, publications and giving talks in schools and colleges. 11

From Europe to America to the Tower of London Ken's message 12

Moving to University • 140 students with sight loss are studying at Higher Education Institutes throughout Wales (RNIB Cymru research April 2010) • Advice to students and teachers regarding Disabled Students allowance / institution and course choices etc. • One to one support e.g. Spanish student at Cardiff • Using student befriender volunteers to help ensure tha students with sight loss are fully included in the social side of student life . 13

Support Towards Employment (STEP) Programme Residential scheme July 2011 Aimed at undergraduates and graduates Workshops on interview technique, presentation at interview skills, job search skills, how to deal with interview skills, job search skills, how to deal with disclosure, Access to Work support and confidence building. AIM - increase possibility of successfully gaining employment 14

The key to smooth transition: Forward planning Being well informed of the support available and the ways of accessing that support. and the ways of accessing that support. A multi agency approach. 15

Sophie Dyment: Sophie Dyment: sophie.dyment@rnib.org.uk Office: 02920 449 571 Mobile: 07909 874 501 16