Adult son/daughter with special educational needs

[ConcernedDad75]

Hi All

Any parents out there with a young adult in their early 20s with special educational needs, learning difficulties, on the autism spectrum etc effectively not in employment, education or training.

I am at my wits end as tried all sorts of organisations to provide employment support for my daughter who has social and learning difficulties. Either she is offered voluntary work which she has done for 2 years and no further forward in finding paid employment.

Signed up to various organisations who secure funding but offer very little beyond cv building, interview skills while she remains for years on a hamster wheel no closer to gaining paid employment. It seems like a tick box exercise for many of these organisations with lack of genuine concern for the young person.

So resorting to reaching out to other parents in a similar position and what you did to help your son daughter with similar challenges into employment.

She has no friends, experienced bullying most of her young life and mostly spends her time doing very little stuck in her room which is certainly not good for her well being.

Although she has been diagnosed as having limited capacity to search for work, I need to find something for her to do in life as this is no way to live. No wonder most young people with these challenges struggle to find employment.

I don’t need yet another programme for her to enroll through the job centre but a supportive employer who can help her in the working place.

Do they even exist or is this just wishful thinking on my part?

Any support or advice would be welcome

Do you work? What is your job?

Can you set up a self employed business she could be part of?

Yes I work in IT for a local authority but don’t run my own business. I do appreciate the suggestion though.

I am not sure what your DD can do but you would have a better idea. You could set up a side hustle and involve her. May never make millions but would give her purpose and direction.

Self employed tax returns are all done online now and simple.

There are a couple of cafes in my town that offer work to adults with additional needs. They usually only do an hour or two at a time depending on their needs but it’s fantastic to see how much it means to them. I work with children and young people that have additional needs through charity organised youth groups to and recently spoke to a colleague about the lack of opportunities for them when so many are capable of working! One of the young ladies has a job in a locally owned, small gift shop. It seems they are more welcoming than larger companies! I hope you find something for your daughter.

what does she enjoy, and what sort of job would she like?
My son, 30, is an expert by experience Co-trainer for Oliver McGowan training. It’s zero hours, but he works 3-9hrs per week and has received training and support. As it’s less than 16 hrs per week he gets to keep his ESA.
There are lots of organisations advertising these roles. It’s mandatory training for health and care staff.

Does she want to work? Has she expressed at all what she’d like to do?

Generally speaking big supermarkets, hospitality and some factories (I would look for the ones with small teams so it’s not too daunting) would be able to employ her. My workplace has some sort of cooperation with some agency/organisation. They usually don’t last long but leave more at ease and confident than when they started.