Woman with DS working in Tescos

[Prufrock]

I really don't want this to sound patronising, but I did want to share my experience this morning.
I went to Tescos with ds, and at the checkout noticed a young woman who was going along picking up the baskets and saying hello to each cashier - I only noticed her because she was so cheery. Then ds spills all his blueberries on the floor, and she comes rushing over to tell me not to worry, she will get a cleaner. It was only then that I realised she had DS. She got a cleaner - and more blueberries for me, and was amusing ds whilst I packed my bags.
Now I know that stacking baskets at Tesco's might not be the most stimulating job in the world, but I found it really nice that this woman was working, so obviously has some level of independence, and that she seemed to be really integrated into the store - her colleagues weren't treating her differently, and it didn't seem like customers were either.

there's a lad working at our local sainsbury's with learning disabilities,just before easter a young girl who had just started working there and has also learning disabilities approached him,held his hand and told him "i'll see you after work darling" he went all red and gave her a big smile i thought it was lovely

Bibic (I am rattling on again, sorry!) had adults with learning difficulties working there. It was so lovely to see.

I know a man who is almost 40 and I have known him since we were children as our mums are friends. Not sure of the exact details but he sustained brain damage as a baby due to some kind of protein allergy. Anyway, he has been in full time employment since he left school doing various jobs (atm he is a hospital porter). They may not be well paid jobs but he pays his way, runs his own car etc. I think it is a great achievement on his part as he went to a special school and had severe behavioural problems when he was young as well as his learning difficulties.

Great to hear of companies employing people for their ability in their jobs. What a terrible story about b&Q - good on the supervisor who resigned in protest - bet lots of customers wouldn't shop there if they knew this - are all the top managers till trained????

I remember one of the managers at safeways was asked to go on a till once, she had NO idea how to operate the thing!!!

I work for a supermarket and we do employ many people with sn, it would be discrimination not to.

However, many of the sn staff I know are disheartened as they tend to be put on one job such as basket stacking and are not allowed the opportunity to try more difficult or customer related jobs. Jobs like this are menial and just because a person has sn does not mean that they do not have higher aspirations. IME the support is just not there to enable sn staff to progress further. This is not just support from the employer but greater support is needed from the public in general. Our sn staff are often treated like sh*t by customers who have a real "I can't be bothered by this" attitude towards sn (and also our older) staff.

I would be very proud of my sn son if he could mange a supermarket job as there are lots of skills involved but I would not be happy for him to be treated by the public the way some of our staff are.

I'm reading a book about brain gym and children with severe learning difficulties at the moment. The special school teacher whp worte the book has a teaching assistant with DS in her classroom. I thought it was a great job for her- and that she would be a great role model for the students.

Thats great prufrock. I think its important that people with any kind of disabilty/illness get opportunities like this. It must be very rewarding for her.

my sons school had a man with ds as an assistant for years he left recently as he said he had a better offerand they had a big leaving assembly for him with a football theme (his big love)He is now at college and working part time in a hardware store i see him on the bus on the way to his work now and then and he is a lovely bloke with a full happy life

thats fab NH!!!

not sure about working when you are ill- I'd rather be in bed asleep!