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Does anyone know where to find help looking for jobs with a disability?

medusaishavingabadhairday
Posts: 12 Forumite
My son is 19, with autism and mild learning difficulties.. special schooled but quite able in some ways (amazing memory, good natured and will work hard). He did a Mencap traineeship and now has a couple of hours a week cleaning tables and serving in a food place there, but he desperately wants a'real job' ie something with a reasonable number of hours. He has no qualifications.
He is on ESA (support group) but WITH a bit of support he could do SOMETHING. He probably couldn't do a full time job as he has mild physical disabilities as well, but he could do part time if someone was willing to give him a chance..and give him the initial support he needs.
We don't have a disability advisor anywhere near our local job centre. They are nice and sympathetic but couldn't help us find work. (Oxfordshire) I am looking for jobs daily for him, and he is asking in all the shops, but so far nothing.
Are there any resources that might help us?
Thanks
He is on ESA (support group) but WITH a bit of support he could do SOMETHING. He probably couldn't do a full time job as he has mild physical disabilities as well, but he could do part time if someone was willing to give him a chance..and give him the initial support he needs.
We don't have a disability advisor anywhere near our local job centre. They are nice and sympathetic but couldn't help us find work. (Oxfordshire) I am looking for jobs daily for him, and he is asking in all the shops, but so far nothing.
Are there any resources that might help us?
Thanks
0
Comments
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Mencap used to do a Pathway programme in some areas that helped people find a way into work. Is it worth going back to them?
Or there might be another agency providing supported employment where you are. Try googling your area as I'm not sure how you'd track it down. Would social services know?
ETA - there's a link on the bottom right that might show if there's anything round by you
.http://base-uk.org/All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.0 -
Have a look at this thread, it's only one post at the moment but others may add to it.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/54413690 -
I know it can be exceptionally hard to find employment when you are a Autistic person. Our unemployment rate is 85%.
I suggest your Son should get his foot in the door by using the ESA Permitted Work scheme. This allows a disabled person to work less than 16 hours and earn less than £115.20 a week. It is paid on top of all existing benefits and can be repeated every year since your Son is in the Support Group.
I would advise you to convince your Son that this is the right choice because the alternative which is Tax Credits for 16 hours plus can open up the door to your Son being sanctioned.
I'll break down the figures for you:
£73.10 Main ESA Rate
£36.20 Support Component
£15.75 Enhanced Disability Premium (depends on high rate care PIP/DLA or ESA Support Group)
£61.85 Severe Disability Premium / Carers Allowance (depends on high rate care PIP/DLA)
£108 (15 hours) Permitted Work Wage.
Total = £294.90
Per Year = £15334.80
So what kind of jobs should your Son go for?
Various types of Engineering such as Mechanical, Computing or Electrical.
Catering jobs are always available during economic down terms but be careful which one you look for because some can be very high pressure.
The ideal job could be a quiet garden centre or something similar.
Me personally? I am a Computing and Electrical Engineer. I work 15 hours a week or 5 hours a day over 3 days and I just repair 2nd hand goods. Its quiet and I don't get dumbed down with all the noise or social expectations.
I think the best course of action is to approach small businesses who need someone for odd jobs. Let your Son volunteer for them for 3 months and if they are happy then see if they will employ him for no less but equal to 15 hours (£108 a week).0 -
Try Remploy, your son will need a referral from the Jobcentre.0
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Remploy was rubbish with me. All we did was job searches which I could have done in my own time in the local library. I had a system where I could search and apply for jobs and still met the requirements of job centre in my two hours there each week,
The only thing they did for me was to call my old job to get a reference chased up because I am deaf.
When I got the job I'm in now they kept pestering me to say are you still in that job. Then 6 months after starting they kept harassing me to get me to sign a form to say I'm still in work and they would give me money for it. It was bribery to say they found me the job when actually I found the job and applied for it myself without their help. They way they kept pestering me was bad they kept saying they would come to my work place during working hours to get me to sign it. Although I did ask them where I worked to check address and they got it wrong a totally different site.
The way they kept pestering me made me thin key must do it to a lot of vulnerable people which replays main focus is. They get money from government to say they found people work when they haven't which I read so the money they offered was coppers to them.
I'd try elsewhere. Is there another job centre you can go to with a dea .Mortgage free wannabe
Actual mortgage stating amount £75,150
Overpayment paused to pay off cc
Starting balance £66,565.45
Current balance £58,108
Cc around 8k.0 -
Could he go to college to get his maths and English gcse which is free. I'm guessing he hasn't got it due to no qualifications stipulated. I believe they used to allow people aged 19 and under on the start of their level 3 course to doing a free level 3 course but there's the adult learning loan as we'll.
The gcses will help to get a basic job and work his way up.
Also maybe think about doing a vision2learn course which is free to do online as long as he completes course within timeframe . It's all word document assessments like typing out the answers and sending it back to tutor online. I've done a couple and it also helps to learn time management, self dispiline, shows eagerness to learn which can be placed on any additional information on applications to sell himselfMortgage free wannabe
Actual mortgage stating amount £75,150
Overpayment paused to pay off cc
Starting balance £66,565.45
Current balance £58,108
Cc around 8k.0
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