Working without Speaking

sams247

Hello, my friend has a disability with speech, he is very intelligent but cannot form words well and so comes across as unable to speak. He has tried to get work in a variety of areas but speech always dominates a lot of the work criteria. Does anyone have any ideas? He has a degree (although I'm not sure in what!), he is mobile, independenet and a nice guy, just doesn't talk. This is a nightmare for interviews btw. Any ideas welcome

zzzLazyDaisy

Hi Sams, sorry I don't know anything about this area, but I googled speech disability and got this

http://www.patient.co.uk/display/16777317/

It is possible that one of those organisations might be able to give practical advice to someone in your friend's position.

Also, access to work might be able to give advice and practical support

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employmentsupport/WorkSchemesAndProgrammes/DG_4000347

It sounds as though your friend's speech problems are a disability within the meaning of the disability discrimination act 1995. In that case a prospective employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments to its working practices to ensure that he is not disadvantaged by reason of his disability, compared to employees who do have normal speech. But the adjustments do have to be reasonable, bearing in mind the size and resources of the prospective employer, so it would be useful for him to be able to say upfront that he has this disability, and then to outline the steps that the employer can take to accommodate this (hopefully either access to work, or one of the organisations in the other list will be able to make practical suggestions)

Hopefully, someone with more experience of this area may be along soon x

sams247

Yeeesss, when we tentatively suggested disability help the response from him was that he wasn't disabled and didn't want to be judged........ So pride I guess but a real point wiht him . Thank you

sleepymy

Some sort of online work would probably be ideal for him. I have a thread kicking about the arms about working from home and someone mentioned a friend who filters emails for companies, something like that might suit your friend on a self employed basis. It really depends on what he's interested in though and what his degree is in if he wants to use it.

Oh nope, he does phone calls as well http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=9457407&postcount=8

mouseymousey99

Wonder if your friend has ever thought of research? Depends on his degree, but I'm thinking political researcher or a clippings comapany? Picture library?Also, it is very solitary - so it would have to be a choice not forced if you see what I mean - he may miss the company of others??

Barneysmom

If he's of a practictal mind, my old job many moons ago was circuit board assmebly. I would sometimes wear my little cd player with headphones nearly all day, and only 'come up for air' at break times. It's great work if your dextrous, no need to talk.

allydowd

I would advise him to go to the doctor and get a referral to a Speech and Language Therapy Department. If he liked the idea they could probably provide him with a little machine you type into and then it speaks what you've typed for you.

If they won't pay for one call your local Round Table charity and ask them to raise the money for one.

This machine would enable him to "talk" to people face-to-face.

A textphone would enable him to make phone calls either with other textphone users or through an operator to any ordinary telephone.

With these two gadgets his career choices needn't be limited.

I would also suggest contacting AFASIC. If they can't help on age grounds they'll know who can:

http://www.afasic.org.uk/

sams247

The speaking machine sounds excellent, we're looking into that. Thank you.

allydowd

There is a FREE fully-functioning piece of software called ReadPlease 2003. You can get it for nothing by downloading it from:

http://www.readplease.com/

Just click on ReadPlease free on the website.

I have used this myself for years and found it to be excellent. It doesn't expire and is fully-functioning. No need to buy the full version unless you really want to. You get a choice of voices.

You download the software, start the program, click File, click New and then simple type in (or paste in) what you want the computer to say. Then click Play and it will say what you have typed.

Could be used by folk who want a computer to speak for them
or
I use it to read out my letters to me and essays so that I can check them for errors. It's often easier for we dyslexics to hear mistakes rather than see them.

iamesbo

sams247 wrote: »

Hello, my friend has a disability with speech, he is very intelligent but cannot form words well and so comes across as unable to speak. He has tried to get work in a variety of areas but speech always dominates a lot of the work criteria. Does anyone have any ideas? He has a degree (although I'm not sure in what!), he is mobile, independenet and a nice guy, just doesn't talk. This is a nightmare for interviews btw. Any ideas welcome

He could try as a spokesman for OFGEM, they refuse to speak when quized about price rigging in the gas industry.