I
NDEPENDENT AND WORK READY CIC is a new non-for-profit website and organisation set up and run by
Karen Yates intending to get people with disabilities and learning difficulties more independent, work ready and developing skills for adult life on a wide range of topics all in one place.
The site is designed to be
simple to navigate with picture categories and drop-down menus on many different life skill topics. The topics look at disability in relation to work, volunteering, health (both physical and mental health), relationships, disability parenting, leisure, tourism, sport, a look at disability blogs, understanding disability benefits, technology, education, housing, the list goes on! Basic skills are also
covered with various publications and videos like on understanding subjects from politics to banking to improving maths and English skills for lifelong learning. You can also learn more in relation to life and work with specific conditions such as Dyslexia, Moderate learning difficulties, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, ADHD and this is growing over time. Many of the materials are easy to read and there are lots of videos. A major focus on the site is
disability employment and volunteering promoting the various sources of support, like from the Government and charities, to get people with disabilities working. Karen has learnt a lot from both positive and negative employment and life experience with disability and draws from her personal experience. The site is hoped to become a
self-directed learning resource that should appeal to people with disabilities, their families, education providers post 16, day care and other support services. The website address is
www.independentandworkready.
co.uk. It is an information site that has a huge range of topics like employment support options, explaining the Access to
jobs as well as volunteering options. It is also intended that the site will in time offer self- directed task cards to help learning about disability and work as well as the other areas. The site was set up by Karen
due to her own personal experiences of having Diplegia Cerebral Palsy and Dyslexia that had led to various experiences in work and using support like Access to Work herself and finding many people do not know the range of options available. Karen has a background in disability research following a Disability Tourism MSc. She has researched disability tourism, sport and leisure and has worked in both Higher Education SEND and further
Work Government Funding that can pay for job coaches, taxi’s, support workers equipment and much more to help people overcome disability and succeed at work. Also other topics like supported employment and task analysis. The site is intended to show
people their options, put them in control, and to collect people’s experiences on topics like disability and work to help others. It is intended the site will also offer an affordable jobs board profiling inclusive employers and will promote the benefits to employers of hiring people with disabilities. The focus will be first and second
education. She has experience supporting those with Moderate learning disabilities, autism and other disabilities as well as her personal lived experience of her own disabilities. She used to run large family
fun day events for disability charities, so has experience with enterprise and self-employment. Karen also has postgraduate qualifications in Psychology and mentoring experience. She intends the site to offer disability mentoring and support to signpost people to the information they need. As well as support with job applications, CV’s Employability and other disability paperwork.
may like to work with them as well as companies willing to offer volunteering, work trials and paid employment. If you would like to get involved please contact Karen by email:
Independentandworkready@gmail.com
Currently the site is looking for partnerships from likeminded organisations that
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