dyspraxia and travel to work frustrations

[TeenToTwenties]

Just a moan really.

We live somewhere with poor public transport, and even poorer to DD's preferred areas of work which is animals or horticulture. Even if you can find jobs that don't need you to be able to drive, you still have to get there.

DD is 21. She has dyspraxia (and anxiety and slow processing). When she was younger she did learn to cycle though found it hard. She has found trying to learn to drive an automatic car difficult and stressy. She has just tried moped training and couldn't manage that.

Where she is currently doing a volunteer placement there is a hill. We can try an electric bike but who knows how that would be.

It massively restricts where she can even attempt to find work which is hard enough as it is.

Are we going to be driving her forever?

Is DD, or you as appointee, claiming PIP? What about UC?

Not for a volunteer position but for employment, have a look at Access to Work. It can sometimes fund transport if disabled people can’t use public transport because of their disability. It can be a fight to get it these days, but it is worth a try.

We're not claiming anything right now. I will have a look though, thank you.
I just want her to be able to be independent of us for work.

Definitely apply for PIP and UC. I suggest you become appointee. You could then use the money towards taxi costs if DD could manage a taxi.

Another thought for the volunteering now rather than long term employment, is DD’s EHCP being maintained? You could lo9k to get the volunteering included in the EHCP, particularly as PfA provision. Then look at transport.

Thank you. I don't actually know what is happening with the EHCP I had better chase that.

She has been doing a Supported Internship, but has not gained a paid job from it. However we are hopeful she will be taken on as an official 'unpaid Student' for next year which will give her training from a well respected place that should help going forward. (They do take paid internships too but full time which she wouldn't cope with).

What is PfA?

Preparation for Adulthood.

As @Phineyj said, PfA is preparation for adulthood. Preparation for adulthood provision should be in F of the EHCP. The scope of PfA is huge. Volunteering can be part of it.

Who is responsible if you aren't at a college?

The LA is always ultimately responsible for the EHCP provision. That still applies if YP aren’t attending a college.

For provision otherwise than at/in college, have a look at EOTAS. Education Otherwise Than At School. You will also sometimes see it written as EOTIS. With the I for In. Sometimes it will have a C, for College, on the end either as well as the S or instead of.